A Produce -- "Smile on the Void" -- CD -- €12
2001 Hypnos, hyp2129
First new solo material from Los Angeles' A Produce in five years, Smile On The Void is a yeoman effort of evocative space music, creating its minimalist ambient atmospheres primarily via the soft coughing of synthesizers. A small handful of guest musicians add some nice extra colour to certain tracks, such as when Ruben Garcia caresses the electric piano keys on Inner Sanctum. [Stephen Fruitman, Motion]
Abandoned Place -- "Shadow of Memory" -- CD -- €13
2008 Thonar Records, TR.10
The debut album from french Dark Ambient artist Abandoned Place (sideproject of March Of Heroes!). Mastered by Frederic Arbour (Cyclic Law). Comes in a magnificent digifile with a beautiful artwork by Sperber Illustrationen. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Adriva -- "Adtasa" -- 3"CD-R -- €5
2008 Observatiore 19, (ltd. 18)
This release contains 2 tracks: first long track is quite typical for Adriva - same raw loops of sound, revolving like giant black millstones. Second track is even more minimalistic and consists of deep low-end rumbling loops.
Adriva -- "Cuore Mini" -- CD-R -- €7
2008 Observatiore 18, (ltd. 18)
Ritual old school industrial from Rostov-on-Don, Russia.
Adriva -- "Oriens" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Observatiore 23, (ltd. 38)
The album was recorded in winter 2008. Lost - somewhere in reality and dream interactions. Clarity - only in search of one of the four cardinal directions... Total time - 60 minutes. [label info]
AirSculpture -- "TranceAtlantic" -- 2 CD -- €16
2005 Neu Harmony, NH037
Dwelling more in the realm of Ambient Music, this release is a journey inward to the dark abstractions of the dreaming mind. With this work, AirSculpture explores the fabric of sound, its range of subtleties and the dramatic possibilities of music organized without a tonal center. A lilting piano improvisation opens each disc but soon the mood spirals downward into a shifting timbral plane. Drones build amongst a narrative of humming synthetic sound and constantly transforming tonal color. Set against these sections is the imaginative and engaging sequencer driven patterns AirSculpture is known for. Even here the group pushes beyond their earlier work and into new and unique depths of throbbing pulse, bouncing echoes and spacey beats. The result is a cool combination of inspired play, chance occurrence and the magnification of minute shadings of sound. [Chuck van Zyl, Star's End]
[mp3]
Alle Sagen Ja -- "The Voice of Bronze Preludes a Song" -- CD -- €13
2006 War Office Propaganda, WOP 28
Alle Sagen Ja is a Dead Man's Hill-sideproject in WWII-theme. The music consist out of military drummings, darkambient battlefield sounds, with vocals telling true happened stories and poems taken from the 2nd world war. [label info]
[mp3]
Andrews, Mike -- "Time & Science" -- CD -- €12
2002 Neu Harmony, NH027
Mike Andrews is unashamedly influenced by both Vangelis and Jean Michel Jarre. He consciously and unconsciously melds both these styles into his music though as his career progresses he is also developing something of a style of his own. His first 'proper' CD 'Retrospective' showed a highly impressive cross section of his work previously only available through the mp3 format. Here the tracks tend to lean towards the more powerful examples of his style though there are some more delicate numbers as well. All of Mike's work is highly melodic but it never gets twee. The leads either flash at you like lasers or work on an almost subliminal level going straight for the soul. Most of the tracks here are parts of a piece called 'Tides of Time' but with other tracks inserted here and there flowing as one continues whole... As well as the two musicians already mentioned I think this album would also appeal to fans of Otarion and Andy Pickford as it is music which is both immense in scale as well as melodically superb. [label info]
[mp3]
Anthesteria -- "Sublustrum OST" -- CD + DVD -- €18
2008 Новый Диск
Sublustrum is a PC-game project created by the musician behind Anthesteria. Non-standard quest from the first person in vein of classical Myst or Scratches. It organically combines grotesque and underground, industrial style and elements of steam-punk. The creators suggest to make a journey on a thin line between reality and subconscious worlds. The game is built upon the original authentic music and sound effects - and many of the puzzles are connected with sound. Sublustrum differs from other games of the same genre with it's deeply psychological subject, unusual visualization and stunning sound accompaniment. Special gift-edition includes DVD-disc with a game, CD with a soundtrack by Anthesteria (dark ambient, neoclassic), colour manual, 2-sided poster and postcards with photographs from the beginning of the past century. The soundtrack was recorded with the assistance of Dmitry Globa-Mikhailenko (Musica Radicum, Phurpa) - saz, oud, digeridoo, Tibetian throat singing; Andrey Minaev (Kaj?) - guitar, flute; and Ludmila Emelyashina - alt. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Antlers Mulm -- "Of Withered Sparks" -- CD -- €13
2007 Loki Foundation, LOKI 47
The third album of ANTLERS MULM opts for deep resonating tones that are harmonious and hypnotic with a greater emphasis on percussion, and the massive foray into song based structures. Dark Beats linked with impressive vibes bringing highlights of an extraordinary world of sound. Phantasmagorial Melodies are melting into an intense atmosphere guided by the outstanding voice of the father of shadows Hans Johm. Throbbing samples enriches this compositions to a homogenic masterpiece. These 10 songs are catching the mood of the warm feeling of being at home and creating a landscape of a coruscant kingdom that lies deep within the lyrical and musical expression. These tracks building melancholy on the most song based LOKI release ever - take a deep breath and get lost in this aural world of ANTLERS MULM. Limited Digipak with 12page booklet. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Arcana -- "Raspail" -- CD -- €7
2008 Gravitator Records, GRR 064
Arcana's approach to neo-classical and symphonic-ambient could well be defined in the meaning of the word "Arcana" itself: specialized knowledge of something generally considered a mystery or a secret. On Raspail, the powerfully moving music of this Swedish quintet creates a magical atmosphere which weaves together lush elements familiar to Arcana fans old and new. Mystery, silence and revealed secrets are interconnected within the 10 new songs. Comparisons to Dead Can Dance will be made, but it must be said that Arcana's approach picks up the tangent that DCD left behind and brings it to a new and fully realized place. Lush electronics mix with acoustic guitar, serene piano and intricate oriental percussions. Warm vocals return to the focus: a heavenly blend of baritone and soprano courtesy of Peter Bjargo and Ann-Mari Thim. In fact, never before has an Arcana album contained so many vocals giving Raspail an emotional touch, a deeper thoughtfulness, a profound feeling of mysterious vision and a sense of secrets... Russian edition of "Raspail" comes with exclusive 20-page booklet. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Arcane -- "33 1/3 Rpm" -- CD -- €12
2004 Neu Harmony, NH034
Paul Lawler began his musical career as a session brass player working with the 'Halle Orchestra' and 'BBC Radio' amongst many others. After years of composing music in his own time he decided to make the transition into media composition on a full time basis following a series of television commissions for the BBC. Equally adept with both cutting edge technology and classical performers his music has a very unique and contemporary style. Paul has been in great demand since composing his first television score in 1998 for the BBC series 'Ancient Voices'. Other commissions include the major BBC series 'Apeman-Adventures in Human Evolution' and 'Ancient Apocalypse'. Paul's music has been used on hundreds of Television shows from around the world including Saturday Night Live, The Montel Williams Show, The Late Late Show in the USA and the major Russian drama productions I and I, plus the recent feature film "Countdown" described by Hollywood moguls as "Russia's First Blockbuster" and "the most ambitious film to come out of Russia"... This is a totally amazing long lost album from this much acclaimed band, blissed out Tangerine Dream influenced brilliance, gatefold style packaging. [label info]
[mp3]
Arditi -- "Omne Ensis Impera" -- CD -- €13
2008 Equilibrium Music, EQM020
The highly anticipated new album by the Swedish duo is finally upon us, under the title “Omne Ensis Impera” . The sense of determination that echoes through their music and which has brought them to the forefront of Martial / Industrial Neo-Classical scene has stayed untouched, evoking the sense of duty and commitment that Italy’s WWI elite storm troops, from which the name Arditi originated, were known for. “Omne Ensis Impera” introduces an additional strength to Arditi’s compositions - epic orchestral loops and thunderous percussions are granted a more prominent role, stirring the damp and suffocating ambiance that the duo have always produced so well with their use of ominous synths, obscure speeches and mesmerizing narrations. Similarly, shades of the Italian Futuristic movement of the early XXth century, which served as inspiration in the early days of the project, remain imprinted in Arditi’s work – “Omne Ensis Impera” could well be a modern interpretation of the Futurist’s goal of glorifying warfare to an artistic expression beyond its inherent violence and intrinsic sense of heroism. “Omne Ensis Impera” has been mastered by Kamrat Nordvargr of Mz.412 and Toroidh, an old ally of the band. Nordvargr has also contributed with additional arrangements on a couple of tracks, and prepared a slightly modified track list, which will feature on the vinyl version of the album that will follow soon, together with a limited edition box set. The CD version is presented in a deluxe glossy Digipak, with embossed artwork. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Austere -- "Solyaris" -- CD -- €12
2008 Hypnos, hyp2753
This is a creative peak for this much-overlooked ambient duo, their first release on Hypnos, following their Hypnos Secret Sounds album Pulse in 2007. In their 10 years of productivity, Austere has covered territory from Pulse's drone minimalism, ranging back through odd and trippy Coil-inspired sonic experimentation, to seamless dark ambient, and occasionally glitchy weirdness. Despite some challenging material in their back catalog, Austere have in this case produced an album as friendly and pleasant as any Austere fan could have imagined possible, and yet without resorting to the usual tricks that make music sound "listenable." [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Bad Sector -- "Storage Disk 2" -- CD -- €13
2008 Waystyx, WR43, (ltd. 500)
2nd part of rare tracks anthology. Contains material from: "Planar Energy" picture 7" (Smallvoices), "Scrignum Vitae" box with CD and objects (Old Europa Cafe), "Ten Years Of Madness" 2 CD (Achtung Baby!), "Land:[Schaft]" 2x10" (Cold Lands), "Hover" CDr (Bastet Rec.), "L'Ame Electrique Presents Old Europa Cafe" (Ame Electrique) + 4 previously unreleased tracks recorded in 2002.
[mp3]
Baker, Aidan -- "Oneiromancer" -- CD -- €12
2006 Die Stadt, DS90, (ltd. 600)
...Oneiromancer apparently means ‘someone who divines through the interpretation of dreams’ and this works as a great title to the album, which gives one of the best representations of a dreamlike state I can imagine. All hazy textures and smudged guitar drones it conjures up a fuzzy half-seen view, vague nostalgic memories and unearths feelings long forgotten. Again this is sure to appeal to fans of Bark Psychosis, Talk Talk, Labradford, Stars of the Lid and Windy & Carl with it’s deep sub-aquatic, organic soundscapes and anyone who enjoyed ‘The Sea Swells A Bit…’ is sure to fall just as absolutely into this follow-up... [Boomkat]
Beequeen -- "Gund" -- CD -- €10
2003 Plinkity Plonk Records, PLONK 11, (ltd. 500)
"Gund" is now available as a CD on Beequeen's private Plinkity Plonk label and has two recordings for two vinyl projects. The first four pieces on the CD were recorded early 1998 for a 12" vinyl single on which these tracks were supposed to be cut at different speeds (16, 33, 45 and 78 RPM). Due to its complexity of pressing this record was never realized. The fifth and sixth track were originally intended to form a 10" album of a most unlikely meeting by Beequeen and MSBR, the well-known Japanese noise act. Based upon a mutual sound exchange, both Beequeen and MSBR worked independently on their pieces. The label that intended to release this, stopped while both bands were still recording. Beequeen finished their piece in 1998 and MSBR decided to do a new piece in 2001. All five Beequeen pieces are Beequeen 'old' style, recorded before their decision to alter their direction in music, but it's probably one of their most refined moments in this style. "Gund" is released in a limited edition of 500 copies and comes in a gorgeous hand-printed sleeve by Knust, Nijmegen, designed by Meeuw. [press-release]
[mp3]
Beequeen -- "Long Stones and Circles" -- 3"CD-R -- €5
2008 My Own Little Label, MOLL 018
Re-issue of a long out of print classic Beequeen work, based around various text by land artist Richard Long. [label info]
[mp3]
Beequeen -- "Sandancing" -- CD -- €10
2008 Important Records, imprec177
After the by now usual gap of some two years, Beequeen is ready to present their latest album, further maturing their sound from 'The Bodyshop' (also on Important Records). More song based, this album features now vocals by Olga Wallis solely (with some backing by Freek Kinkelaar). Well rounded popsongs in some places, but Beequeen never forget to put in some strange element, without leaping in the dark alley of pointless experiment. Orchestral in 'The Illogical Song', collage like in 'The Edie Three Step' or a simple rhythmmachine in
'The Honeythief'. Beequeen does all, and with great care and seemingly ease... This album features also the help of Barry Gray, former (and first) guitarist of The Legendary Pink Dots, and would not have been the album that is without the invalueable productional skills of Erik Drost. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Beequeen -- "Seltenturm Beesides 1989-2000" -- 2 CD -- €12
2007 Plinkity Plonk Records, PLONK 22, (ltd. 300)
It has been something of a wait, but Beequeen has opened up their Vaults once more. After the succesful release of A Touch Of Brimstone in 2003, we now very proudly present SELTENTURM - BEESIDES (1989-2000). This brand new collection takes in many previously released but now unobtainable Beesides in the double CD format. A treasure-trove of the past!.. While Beequeen recently finished recording 'Sanddancing' (their next excursion into the world popmusic - a journey beginning with 'Ownliness' and 'The Bodyshop'), which will be released early 2008 by Important Records, it was time to clear out the vaults; and this time for good. While 'A Touch Of Brimstone' saw the release of many unreleased pieces from the archive, 'Seeltenturm - The Beesides' takes a good look at the released output from Beequeen, ever since they started to release music in 1989... SELTENTURM (a fine double CD) consists of the following releases: 'Mappa Mundi' (cassette, with bonus tracks), 'Fond' (one sided LP), 'Split' (split LP), 'The Surrough Gate' (10"), 'Vault' (7"), 'White Tusk' (7") and 'Dovidzdane Vanja' (7"). All of these releases were made in editions smaller than 250 copies, and all long out of print. All tracks have been lovingely remastered by Raymond Steeg in the warm winter of 2006-2007 and they have never sounded better... A real treasure box for old and new fans alike. Limited edition of 300 copies in gorgeous printed artwork. Design by Meeuw. [press-release]
[mp3]
Bianchi, Maurizio (M.B.) + Telepherique -- “The House of Mourning" -- CD -- €11
2006 Cold Current Productions, C.C.CD002 / Radiotarab Records, Rt003
The second chapter of collaboration between Maurizio Bianchi (MB) a fundamental artist of the plenary experimental music scene and the Telepherique (an amazing project from the roster of Ant-zen records) The CD is based on the bible book of Ecclesiastes, chapter seven, verses two and four "BETTER IS IT TO GO TO THE HOUSE OF MOURNING THAN TO GO TO THE BANQUET HOUSE, BECAUSE THAT IS THE END OF ALL MANKIND; AND THE ONE ALIVE SHOULD TAKE IT TO HIS HEART... THE HEART OF THE WISE ONES IS IN THE HOUSE OF MOURNING..." "The House Of Mourning" is that purifier building in which there's deep sorrow and disheartened grief due to the lack of our beloved ones ... when someone is paying a condolence visiting that house of affliction, he is reminded of his own inexorable mortality. To consider our existence in the gloomy house of mourning, ultimately and invariably culminating in death, gives us a healthy, balanced view of our fragile life. Some time spent with the sadness or grieving, helps us appreciate the simple things in our troubled condition. This is not the easiest lesson to learn, but it is a necessary one because when we give sober thought to serious matters it brings good benefits later, when life seems resolutely distressing and ostinately depressing. In the end, "The House Of Mourning" is the common admonition to our foolish arrogance". [press-release]
[mp3]
Black Deal With Snow & Mesopic Vision -- "s/t" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Still*Sleep, CDR06
Black Deal With Snow is one of the multiple incarnations of Russian drone-musician [S], known for his projects Exit In Grey, Five Elements Music, Sister Loolomie, etc. Mesopic Vision is a creation of another Russian musician who previously used the name Polaris and is also known for his label Abgurd. Their collaboration work is a one 37-min. long track of dark drone ambient. Really strong, varied and powerful recording.
Black Sun Productions -- "operettAmorale" -- CD -- €14
2005 Divine Frequency, DivF01
"operettAmorale" is Massimo & Pierce's personal tribute to the poetry of German poet, playwright and thinker Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956).
The album is composed of 11 classic Brecht's songs, here revisited according to Massimo & Pierce's irreverent attitude. Massimo & Pierce invited some of their friends to contribute to operettAmorale: COIL recorded the song A List of Wishes (one of the latest studio performances by Johnn Balance) purposely for this album, LYDIA LUNCH delivered his incomparable voice for The Ballad of Sexual Dependency, HR GIGER contributed with the cover artwork and a vocal cameo appearance on Seerauber-Jenny. "operettAmorale" was produced by Massimo & Pierce in collaboration with Larsen's member Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo, whom also provided some original music and the acoustic arrangements. Among the musicians whom partecipated to operettAmorale's recording sessions are Julia Kent (Antony and the Johnsons) and Marco Schiavo (Larsen). [press-release]
Boddy, Ian & Reuter, Markus -- "Pure" -- CD -- €12
2004 DiN, DiN17, (ltd. 1000)
Arguably the UK’s leading independent electronic music maestro Ian Boddy has teamed up once again with German touch guitarist, Markus Reuter to create a stunning new album called Pure. [...] This is not a collection of drifting textures but rather a series of crisply defined vignettes with tight arrangements and close attention to fine detail. Filled with achingly beautiful melodies and deceptively simple orchestrations, Pure is the sound of two musicians at the top of their game. This isn’t some somnolent chill-out CD or music with which to decorate the air. Don’t expect to turn on, tune in and drop off. What you get with Pure is an album of sustained reverie; alert, engaged and insightful; totally in the moment; Pure music of here and now. Pure has the warmth and human-touch so often lacking in modern electronica. This isn’t about wires and interfaces; Pure is about contact and exchange; in this sound world nothing is separate or isolated. With Pure everything connects – one idea leading to another. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Boddy, Ian & Woestheinrich, Bernhard -- "Moire" -- CD -- €12
2005 DiN, DiN18, (ltd. 1000)
[...] Boddy & Wostheinrich first got together in the DiN studio way back in April 2002 and played a number of improvisations utilising Boddys mastery of his large analogue modular system with Wostheinrichs quirky & organic approach to drum & arpeggiator patterns. These sessions were then locked in the DiN vault for almost a year until Markus Reuter opened the lid and intuitively edited the performances into a number of arrangements that formed the basis of the tracks on Moire. The baton was then taken on by Wostheinrich who, over the summer of 2004, further added to and sculpted the pieces into more refined forms. The final lap was then for Boddy & Wostheinrich to finalise the arrangements & mix at the DiN studios in December 2004... The resulting music spread over 10 tracks captures both the detail & complexity of arrangement possible with modern music technology with the spontaneous nature & organic feel of the original improvisations. Sonically it effortlessly ranges from classic analogue sequencer lines to deep, metallic atmospheres through to full on drum & synth work-outs. The majority of the tracks employ organic analogue arpeggiations together with muscular & unusual percussive loops to form the backbone of the music. Ethereal ambient textures provide a suitably surreal counter-balance to the solidity of the rhythmic structure to create a constant sense of flow & change within the compositions. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Book Of Wisdom -- "Ultra" -- CD -- €11
2005 Nature & Art, NACD 204
New album after 8 years, with elements of chambermusic, psychedelic art, contemporary progressive rockmusic, old-style industrial, electroacoustic and analog sound textures, between acoustic instruments like guitars, harpsichord and strings, analog synthesizers and modular systems. [Loki info]
Bradley, Paul -- "Sketches from Dust" -- CD -- €15
2006 Twenty Hertz, TH 015, (ltd. 200)
Following on from ‘Memorias Extranjeras’ (Alluvial Recordings) with ‘Sketches from Dust’, we again have a less ‘typical’ Paul Bradley release. For this CD, gone are the field recordings and over the forty minutes we hear a piece that is mainly constructed from Guitar and Piano (the latter being played by Maja Elliott of Current 93). The recording is augmented by various acoustic sounds and some precise mixing techniques to form an organic and possibly ‘looser’ feeling recording than we might be previously expecting. What we hear is an intimate yet murky, almost eroded sonic journey. A primitive earlier outtake of ‘Sketches from Dust’ appeared on the limited ‘Notes from Past - Sketches from Dust’ CDr released earlier in 2006. This now fully realized work is released in two CD editions, one limited to 200 copies in hand painted card sleeve and a second unlimited edition with printed card insert in a plastic wallet. [press-release] Special edition.
Brume -- "Schiluuk" -- CD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR53, (ltd. 375)
This is the 3rd CD in the 13 CD Brume anthology, originally recorded in 1991 and released on cassette in 1991 by Corrosive Tapes. Digitally remastered at Brume Rec. in winter 2006. C. Renou - all instruments, home-made instruments, tape, pseudo ethnic voices, electronics, mix... [label info]
[mp3]
Brume -- "Stable" -- CD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR54, (ltd. 375)
This is the 4th CD in the 13 CD Brume anthology. C. Renou - electronics, tapes, voices, mix. Track #1 was recorded in real time in the studio: programming, 3-string guitar + effects. Track #6 is alien stuff called "Erection in Church" from Nihilistic Recordings compilation cassette. Because of the destruction of the original master, this recording was revisited and remastered from a bad quality cassette copy. Produced in 1995 by Bandaged Hand Produce. Reworked and digitally remastered at Brume Rec. in winter 2006. [label info]
[mp3]
Brume -- "Electrocoagulation Tapes" -- CD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR55, (ltd. 375)
This is the 5th CD in the 13 CD Brume anthology. Tracks 1-9 basically recorded live in the studio. C. Renou - electronics, metal, tapes, loops, horn, trump, voice, mix. Pat' Blanch - trump, voice, tapes. G. Guiggia - percussion, flutes. Reprocessed at Brume Rec. in winter 2006. Originally produced on cassette by Irre-Tapes in 1991. Tracks 10-12 were extracted from the split tape Brume / Telepherique, produced by Drahtfunk Products in 1991. [label info]
[mp3]
Brume -- "Les Victimes Sont Dangereuses" -- CD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR56, (ltd. 375)
This is the 6th CD in the 13 CD Brume anthology. C. Renou - all instruments. Compiled, recorded and mixed at Brume Rec. in 1996-97. Ultrasonic mastering by Richard Johnson / Atmoject. Originally produced by Atmoject as a limited edition CD-R in 1998. Digitally remastered at Brume Rec. in winter 2006. [label info]
[mp3]
Brume -- "Moll" -- CD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR57, (ltd. 375)
This is the 7th CD in the 13 CD Brume anthology. C. Renou - all instruments, tapes, mix, Marie-France - voice. Compiled, recorded and mixed at Brume Rec. in 1999. Originally produced by Prion Tapes as a limited edition CD-R in 1999. Remastered from the DAT-master at Brume Rec. in winter 2006. Dedicated to Philip K. Dick. [label info]
[mp3]
Brume -- "Lost in Karrack" -- CD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR58, (ltd. 375)
This is the 8th CD in the 13 CD Brume anthology. A compilation of rare/unedited tracks. C. Renou - all instruments, tapes, voice. Remastered from the DAT-master at Brume Rec. in winter 2006. [label info]
[mp3]
Brume -- "Early Tracks" -- CD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR59, (ltd. 375)
This is the 9th CD in the 13 CD Brume anthology. A compilation of the very first recordings from 1981-1986. C. Renou - all instruments, tapes, mix; Antoine Faure - guitar; Eric Erfurth - guitar, voice; Phil - guitar; Thierry Febvre - sequencer. Remastered from the cassette and DAT-masters at Brume Rec. in winter 2006. [label info]
[mp3]
Brume -- "Live With or Without Audience" -- CD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR60, (ltd. 375)
This is the 10th CD in the 13 CD Brume anthology. Live recordings from 4 performances held in 1985-1988. Remastered from the cassette and reel-to-reel masters at Brume Rec. in winter 2006. [label info]
[mp3]
Brume -- "In Death We Trust! / Programm T4" -- CD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR61, (ltd. 375)
This is the 11th CD in the 13 CD Brume anthology. Tracks 1-8 recorded in 1987 and produced by Underground Prods in 1998. Track 9 recorded in 1986. Remastered from original cassette masters at Brume Rec. in winter 2006. [label info]
[mp3]
Brume -- "Drug" -- CD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR62, (ltd. 375)
This is the 12th CD in the 13 CD Brume anthology. "Drug" (parts 1-7) was basically recorded in 1999 and released as a limited edition CD-R by Blade Rec. in 1999. Track 8 was basically recorded in 1986 and released as a limited edition cassette by Brume Rec. in 1998. Tracks 9-10 were the very last stuff recorded in 1999 under the name of Brume. Digitally remastered at Brume Rec. in winter 2006. [label info]
[mp3]
Brume -- "The Prehistoric Tapes" -- CD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR63, (ltd. 375)
This is the 13th CD in the 13 CD Brume anthology. "These recordings were the very first electronic experiments I made, just after I gace up Uria, and just before I create Brume. The main stuff was inspired by music like Heldon, Suicide... but also progressive music and German kraut-rock." Recorded from 1979 to 1983 at Primitive Studio and Brume Rec. Remastered from "dusty tapes", reprocessed at Brume Rec., winter 2006. [label info]
[mp3]
Brume -- "Anthology" -- 13 CD -- €135
2008 Waystyx, WR50, (ltd. 100)
13 CD Brume anthology, consisting of releases from WR51 to WR63 in special box with red silkscreen, limited edition 100 copies. For peoplr who bought all 13 CDs separately an empty box with black silkscreen is available for free.
Candyman And Evil Flowers -- "s/t" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Still*Sleep, CDR07
One more project of Russian musician [S] known for Exit In Grey, Five Elements Music, Sister Loolomie, etc... Under this name he explores more dense sounding side of drone ambient music, sometimes even bordering with noise, but still driven by emotions. The closest analogues are Maeror Tri and Troum albums. The lovers of these projects should really draw their attantion to this release - you won't be disappointed. The recording was done with the help of guitar, accordion, flute, voice and percussion.
Canovas, Javi -- "Light Echoes" -- CD -- €12
2006 Neu Harmony, NH039
Javi will be a new name to many but he has, over the last few years, been perfecting his art. In 2005 he put his 'toe in the water' with a self-produced album 'Impasse'. It was well received amongst sequencer nuts. This early promise was not a 'flash in the pan' as 'Light Echoes' is a real cracker. The title makes it sound as if the album might be rather mellow but nothing could be further from the truth as it is a hard-core sequencer belting epic where his complex sequences are allowed to let rip almost throughout. [label info]
[mp3]
Cisfinitum -- "Tactio" -- CD -- €11
2008 Mechanoise Labs, mn033, (ltd. 500)
With a parsimonious discography mostly released on seasoned Russian labels such as Waystyx, Ewers Tonkunst and Monochrome Vision, Evgeny Voronovsky has established himself as a uniquely engaging artist in the country's current ambient scene. Under the name of Cisfinitum, he has taken a syncretic approach to an often codified genre, uniting his formal training as a violinist at the Moscow State University with his affinity for concrete sounds and experimental structures. Past releases have shown a capacity to synthesize these factors at times while emphasizing the contrasts between them at others, sometimes over the course of a single track. In this aspect, this album follows the tradition faithfully... Tactio is the live recording of a Cisfinitum concert at the St. Petri Dom (St. Peter's Cathedral) in Bremen, on November 24, 2005. The particular (and as expected highly favorable) acoustics of this environment were consistently used not only as an enhancing effect but as an integral foundation for the performance, making it unmistakably tied to its context. Presented in the form of six continuous tracks, the album is a contemplative composition of vibrant drones, reverberating bells and synthesized resonance, gracefully evolving from the celestial tones of its start to the tellurian pulses of its climax. This is a piece of work that is elaborate in its simplicity, and it's with much appreciation that it is presented here today. The beautiful iconic artwork by Evgeny Kuprienko further emphasizes the relic-like qualities of this recording. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Cold Fusion -- "Report" -- CD -- €13
2007 Rage In Eden, RAGE 56
This record is the re-edition of Cold Fusion's classic second full-lenght work. The concept album entitled "Report" with 46 minutes of military ambient soundscapes and rhythms, so characteristic for Cold Fusion. The first issue ( sold-out ) was published by War Office Propaganda only in 200 CDR copies in 2005. Now re-issued on CD in digipack with Michal Karcz's artwork. [press-release]
[mp3]
Cold Fusion / Rukkanor -- "Silk Road" -- CD -- €13
2008 Rage In Eden, RAGE 62, (ltd. 500)
The Silk Road is a series of trade and cultural transmission routes connecting East and West by linking traders, merchants, pilgrims, monks, soldiers, nomads and urban dwellers from China to the Mediterranean Sea during various periods of time. Many artistic influences transited along the Silk Road, especially through the CentralAsia, where Hellenistic, Iranian, Indian and Chinese influence were able to intermix. "Silk Road" - a split of Cold Fusion and Rukkanor is a road album, connecting past with present, East and West, classical oriental melodies with modern arrangements. 9 tracks, 43 minutes, CD in digipack. Limited edition of 500 handnumbered copies. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3]
Contemplatron -- "Delog" -- CD -- €13
2008 Wrotycz Records, WRT 007
After a successful debut album Wrotycz Records is proud to announce the second release of this Polish dark ambient act. The DELOG experience is extraordinary, marvellous, even within the esoteric context of Tibetan Buddhism. The Tibetan word DELOG refers to one who has crossed the threshold of death and returned to tell about it. The person who is recognised as DELOG lays without any sign of breath, pulse or body warmth for many days. During that his or her mind journeys to other realms of experience: the pure display of enlightened mind as well as existence within samsaric delusion and ignorance. [press-release]
Cyclotimia -- "Algorithms" -- CD -- €7
2005 Irond, CD 05-1066
"Algorithms" continue the subject of "E$chaton" album, taking it's ideas and atmosphere to the maximum limit. Stylistically this is a completely unique cyber-electronics with elements of industrial and dark ambient in the best way. Aside from the title theme, the disk contains 2 remixes of well-known hits "Leviathan" and "Wasteland", and 5 new tracks. But the jewel of the disk is a dark-futuristic video-clip done in a very futuristic way! Recommended to all lovers of non-standard music like Laibach, Skinny Puppy, Coil, Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Front Line Assembly, Download. [label info]
[mp3]
Dbkaos -- "Art of Sacrifice" -- CD -- €12
2003 DiN, DiN14, (ltd. 1000)
Art of Sacrifice is the debut album by dbkaos. Based in the South-West of England, Dave Hickman, the man behind dbkaos, has had several years experience programming synths and effects for the thirteen sample CD's he's had released by Zero-G (the UK's leading sample CD producer). This pedigree has enabled him to compose Art of Sacrifice, a well crafted vision into the future of synthesis. Using a MAC computer as the main sound source with external audio contributions from a VCS3, Supernova II and of course access to his vast library of samples, the six tracks display a real sonic depth... Musically Art of Sacrifice slots nicely into the DiN pantheon whilst retaining it's own individual character. Lush, ambient textures are overtaken by frenetic, complex sequencers. Trance like percussive sections give way to surrealistic, dream-like passages. The overall album has a real feeling of a journey although it's source and destination are ambivalent enough to allow the listener to formulate their own path. As such Art of Sacrifice perfectly crystallises one of the main aims of DiN to bridge the gap between electronic musics analogue ancestry with cutting edge digital soundscapes. [label info]
[mp3]
De Fabriek -- "Neveleiland" -- CD -- €10
2004 Plinkity Plonk Records, PLONK 17, (ltd. 500)
In 1983 Dutch experimental band De Fabriek released their second album Neveleiland on their private label in a limited edition of a few hundred copies. Consisting of two beautiful and delicate sides of story-telling (in the Moluccan and Icelandic language) set in a droney, outer world landscape, the album was a landmark in the history of Dutch experimental music. Influenced by the Residents (circa Eskimo) and Conrad Schnitzler this album has a somber electronic sound in which the stories become alive. One story is about a young moluccan soldier who came in 1951 to Holland with his family. On this record he is telling the story of Indonesia that became independent at that time, whilst the other story is about a farmer living high up in the mountains of Iceland. He is living his live slowly day after day till one day two witches are coming and destroy his life. So the story say... Neveleiland sold out quickly and has remained a closely guarded secret for over 20 years. Now Plinkity Plonk records is very pround indeed to present you this amazing album, remastered from the original tapes in the usual gorgeous carton Plinikity Plonk cover. Be quick to order your copy as there are only 500 copies available. [press-release]
[mp3]
Dead Man's Hill -- "Dog Burial" -- CD -- €13
2007 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 092
7th full length album for Dead Man’s Hill! Far more violent and darker atmosphere than ever before. This entire album handles about the loss of nature, all the people who destroy it, knowing and unknowing what they’re doing. Further it handles also about nature making conspiracies with the Loa’s to let mankind disappear from the earth. The music sounds like a storm wiping away everything in the neighbourhood. Extremely dark classical death industrial with choirs, the voice of the Apocalypse telling people in their dreams how it all will evolve, magical and Black Metal atmospheres .. For all lovers of "In Slaughter Natives"! Art-work presenting a series of magnificent Caravaggio paintings! [press-release]
[mp3]
Death In June -- "Black Angel - Live!" -- CD -- €17
2008 Leprosy Discs, LEPER CD8, (ltd. 2000)
Live recording made on 24.05.2000 at The Esplanade, Melbourne, Australia. Band consisted of Douglas P. & John Murphy. Songs performed: Ku Ku Ku, To Drown A Rose, Omen-Filled Season, Symbols Of The Sun, Giddy Giddy Carousel, Kameradschaft, She Said Destroy, The Honour Of Silence, Golden Wedding Of Sorrow, Runes And Men, Fall Apart, But, When Ends When The Symbols Shatter? Signed by Douglas P.
Death In June -- "The Rule of Thirds" -- CD -- €17
2008 New European Recordings, BAD VC CD 51
The first new Death In June studio album in more than three years. The CD edition is presented in an embossed softpak with 16 page lyric book. The embossed whiphand looks like the birds on AA and this is where the music continues. Minimalistic and pure, nearly no other instruments then the guitar and the voice of Douglas P. A break with what you know from "Symbols" or albums like "TCAC" and "OH". You will love the artistic pictures in the artwork. Recommended! [Tesco info]
Defile Des Ames -- "Lust'n'Stone" -- CD -- €13
2008 Ahnstern, Ahnstern32
The swirling sense of lust meets the hardness of stone. The music of Defile Des Ames is a blend of contrary elements: Violence & lyricism, atmosphere & rage, murder, purity, winds & mushrooms… Their traditional and classical instruments are accompanied by powerful percussions and the participation of the great MATT HOWDEN (SIEBEN) gives a uncompareable accent to the album. "Lust 'n' Stone" is a brilliant, dark Avant-Garde Folk album and after many years of live appearances and independent releases, here is finally the debut album of the Mediterranean Folk-gods Defile Des Ames. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Der Blaue Reiter -- "Le Paradise Funebre..." -- CD -- €13
2006 Caustic Records, CRR014, (ltd. 1000)
Caustic Records presents DER BLAUE REITER, long awaited new project of Sathorys Elenorth (Narsilion, Lugburz, Ordo Funebris) inspired by warlike ambiences impregnated with an apocalyptic martiality, where powerful percussions and majestic neoclassic passages are the protagonists of this new work, more than an hour of melancholic music replete of feelings and deep pain … Feel how the crying of a cold war, legacy of the past, stir itself in the tops of destruction of our last days, where the dreams are just a legend and the death is a dark reality … Industrial dark ambient for fans of Predella Avant, Sophia, Raison d'etre, Triarii and Les joyaux de la princesse… [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Der Blaue Reiter -- "Silencis" -- CD -- €13
2008 Caustic Records, CRR018
Caustic Records presents "Silencis" the long awaited second album of DER BLAUE REITER. More apocalyptic than ever, Sathorys Elenorth and Lady Nott (Narsilion) are back with a new chapter of darkness and sadness, in hands of an uncertain destiny where human being shines under the last days of its tormented existence and in world surrender under the most absolute madness … Decadence and death, sin and desolation are the keys which guide us through forgotten ambiences where the martial holds the reins of our sad reality. Our future dawn deconstruction has already begun, now you just decide when die… [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Deuterror -- "Le Gueule de Guerre" -- CD -- €10
2007 Steelwork Machine, SMR06, (ltd. 1000)
Talking about drone-based works another one comes from French label Steelwork Maschine. After having released two mp3-albums, "Cohortaris Lex" and "Agripen", Belgium sound artist calling himself Deuterror is ready with his debut CD-release. The album titled "Le Gueule De Guerre" is a very dark piece of ambience. Dominating on the album is harsh industrial-based buzz drones giving a quite hard-edged and disturbing approach to dark ambience. Despite the cynic and quite brutal air saturating the album, there is a great atmosphere adding some melodic warmth to the album. Especially the final track shines with its mixture of brutality and beauty woven together into a tense contrast between grim reality and idyllic soundscapes. The limited edition of 1000 copies also includes a section computer-generated images and short film clip of medieval-looking fantasy landscapes, suiting the atmosphere of the music very well. [Niels Mark, Vital Weekly]
[myspace]
Dwelling -- "Ainda E Noite" -- CD -- €13
2007 Equilibrium Music, EQM013
Portuguese artisans of acoustic ambiance and challenging melodies present their new opus, “Ainda E Noite”. Having spent a good portion of the last two years preparing this much awaited release, the Portuguese all strings combo Dwelling returns reinvigorated. Their trademark acoustic design has been slightly reshaped, not only by the recruitment of another violinist,but also through the use of other additional instruments - 8 string bass, fretless bass and 12 string Portuguese guitar have been weaved into the intricate fabric of Dwelling's compositions at key moments, adding new moods and textures to the band’s core foundations made up of classical guitars and distinctive vocals. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Ellis, Paul -- "Appears to Vanish" -- CD -- €12
2000 Neu Harmony, NH016
Influences from mid-70's Tangerine Dream are quite obvious on the first track, but from then on Paul Ellis leads us through pristine soundscapes. Indeed, this CD is much more than just copying Froese and Co. from the "Stratosfear" era. We do hear the unavoidable Mellotron but also soundscapes, patterns and sequences that are genuine. Ellis uses a wide array of moods: from ambient to rhythmic, retro to contemporary, moody to bright, atmospheric to foreboding, but never chaotic or experimental. The best way to enjoy this music is in a comfortable seat with your eyes closed. You'll be floating in no time... [Erwin Broers]
[mp3]
Esplendor Geometrico -- "Anthology 1981-2003" -- 2 CD -- €17
2005 Geometrik, gr digi-01
This is the first Esplendor Geometrico anthology to be published. Pioneer and cult band born in Madrid in the year 1980, is one of the most influential in the international Industrial and Rhythm & Noise scene in the last two decades. Is a DOUBLE CD with works that comprise the period from their very beginning to the present, with some recent recordings. 28 tracks have been selected, amongst which some of the hits most acclaimed by their fans (Sinaya, Muerte a Escala Industrial, Rotor, Isolektra, Ven a Jugar, ...) have been included, other belonging to albums sold-out years ago: Arispejal Astisaro, Veritatis Splendor, Sheik Aljama, Nador, Tarikat, 80,s Tracks, Tokyo Sin fin…, and four UNRELEASED tracks from 2003! [press-release]
Falkenstein -- "Heiliger Wald" -- CD -- €13
2008 Kraftplatz Records, KRPL 01, (ltd. 300)
Falkenstein is a fragile young oaktree in the fairywoods of new Pagan Folk Music. Born out of the mystic nature and ancient cult-places of southern Germany, Falkenstein guides you gently to your heathen ancestors and their natural religion. Falkenstein's music is classical NeoFolk in best tradition, with beautiful lyrics about hallowed trees and woods, ancient tales from veiled times and long forgotten natural rites. Falkenstein is definitely a unique and outstanding NeoFolk artist of the new generation, who knows how to play his instruments and who's lyrics directly creep under the skin of each Pagan and Folk Music lover. [Steinklang info]
Five Elements Music -- "Nexus" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Still*Sleep, SS15
Electroacoustic ambient made from field recordings. The album consists of two long tracks. The first one, unlike many F.E.M. recordings, has dense and saturated sounding. The second one is more smooth and calm in atmosphere, but not less in density of sound - several sonic layers collide and create multifarious wave pattern drawing inside like a swirl in which you can notice every tiny detail while drowning...
Five Elements Music -- "Sylphstream" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Still*Sleep, SS16
First half an hour long track sounds a lot like another project of [S] - Ion And Sophus - very quiet atmospheric tunes accompanied by lo-fi field recordings. Second track starts to condense the sound and brings the feeling of being in a primeval night forest not in the best time... the campfire is playing tricks, the swamps are droning, the wood spirits are wandering around... The last third track continues this feeling drawing in the very inside of fire - here dominate the sounds of flames and charcoal crackles, little by little dissolving in their own echoes...
Flutwacht -- "Heroinloops" -- CD -- €13
2008 Steinklang Industries, SK 45, (ltd. 350)
"Heroinloops" is a brilliant, pure Industrial album by German's top-Noiser FLUTWACHT. Their new album brings a great mix of rhythmic oldschool Industrial a la early Esplendor Geometrico, or like the famous early 90ies Steinklang Rhythm-Noisers, with a strong touch of "modern" Power-Electronics. The powerful noise-tracks alternate with hypnotic Ambient-Noise tunes, which give the album a comatose and traumatic character. "Heroinloops" is a varied and well structured Noise-album, for all fans of the early Industrial years. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Folkstorm -- "Folkmusik" -- CD -- €13
2005 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 076
Like a restless zombie that refuses to stay dead Folkstorm once again has risen from the grave to wage war on the world !!! Mr Nordvargr has been active as usual the last years, but he has focused more on producing darkambient and electronic music, but that is now changing. Our guess is that he just cant sleep at night if he doesnt let off some steam every once in a while... The new album FOLKMUSIK is very much a classic Folkstorm album with it's roots firmly placed in the old-school industrial style, but there is a suffocating quality to it that is new! While a lot of the tracks are rythmic, harsh and ugly compositions as you would expect, there are also a few ones which are monotonous monuments of fear, isolation, despair and tension. [label info]
Foundation Hope -- "A Call to all Redeemers" -- CD -- €13
2006 Divine Comedy Records, DC 042, (ltd. 500)
The music of Foundation Hope creates pieces of dramatic's film music. The one that just reach you "au plus profond des meandres de l'inconscient". The band is influenced by ambient-acts like Raison D’etre, Lustmord, or Robert Rich, but also post-rock acts such as Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Low and Mogwai. Intense and radical with a very 80's feeling always appreciated here, at the Divine Comedy Record headquarter. This release comes in a limited digipack, presenting landscapes illustrated by choirs, echoing & heavy menacing atmospheres. Sad and bleak soundscapes for a depraved religious institute, pretending to give comfort and light... [press-release]
[mp3]
Free Systen Project, AirSculpture & Friends -- "Okefenokee Dreams 2001" -- CD -- €12
2002 Neu Harmony, NH023 / Quantum Records, QCD0232
Recorded live at Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia USA from April 20 till 24, 2001. The musicians are: Marcel Engels (Free System Projekt), John Christian and Peter Ruczynski (AirSculpture), Dave Brewer and Bill Fox. A great CD for any fan of retro Berlin School style ambient. [label info]
[mp3]
Frisch, Johannes & Wehowsky, Ralf -- "Tränende Würger" -- CD -- €10
2005 Korm Plastics, KP 3021
Johannes Frisch works since the late 1970s as a performer, composer and improviser of contemporary music between experimental rock, free jazz and other openminded styles. On his main instrument, the double bass, he works for more than three decades consequently on an individual expressive language... Ralf Wehowsky founded the group P.D. (in 1981 renamed P16.D4) and the label Wahrnehmungen (in 1982 renamed Selektion) in 1980. P16.D4 were one of the most influential groups of experimental industrial music. They developed concepts of materialaustausch long before the term remix was even coined. For their live appearances they were equally at home at punk and no wave festivals as at the holy grails of academic avantgarde like the Ferientage Neuer Musik, Darmstadt. Since the early 90s Wehowsky worked under his own name (rlw). The quiet, highly complex style of composition, based on artifacts of instrumental and electronic lateral noises, evolving out of his collaboration with Bernhard Günter was influential for numerous artists in the fields of electronic and improvised music... "Tränende Würger" is based on free improvisations by the Frisch/Wehowsky duo, reworked with electro-acoustic means. The compositional process did not intend to mask the nonlinear nature of the improvisations. Quite on the contrary their organic character has been emphasized by crystal-clear sharpening of details. You'll find complex structures and dark atmospheres, not unlike those on some P16.D4, This Heat or Mnemonists releases, though absolutely rooted in the 21st century. Beauty and posoning are not far from each other. "Tränende Würger" comes in a plastic bag, 15x15cm with the artwork on six seperate sheets, dealing with poisenious plants. Design by Meeuw. [label info]
[mp3]
The Glimmer Room -- "Tomorrow's Tuesday" -- CD -- €12
2002 Neu Harmony, NH024
The whole album is extremely commercial, probably the most commercial Electronic Music I have ever heard and certainly of all the albums on the Neu Harmony label the one which would have most appeal to the mainstream market... Rhythmically it has more in common with music you might have heard during the eighties but being much more inventive and infinitely more powerful than anything you would have heard then. There are no vocals (except on one track), there is no need for them the melodies being so strong. The one exception to the no vocals statement is 'Sweet Smell of Cloves'. This is the only 'song' on the whole of the Neu Harmony label!.. It's not scared of being commercial sounding but at the same time avoids all the bland crap clichйs of most pop music. It doesn't try and tag itself onto any other scene in order to gain exposure, it does its own thing. Above all it tries to be enjoyable and exciting - and succeeds. It's a breath of fresh air! [label info]
[mp3]
Griffin, M. / Fulton, Dave -- "Imprint" -- CD -- €12
2002 Hypnos, hyp2242
Imprint is the second collaboration between Mike Griffin, founder and owner of Hypnos Recordings, and Dave Fulton of Dweller at the Threshold. It is difficult to imagine two more divergent styles of e-music and even more difficult to imagine them working in tandem, but they do. Griffin is solidly and firmly entrenched in the dark ambient and minimalist arena, while Fulton is one of the U.S.A.'s leading Berlin-schoolers. It is most easily depicted by describing the images of their October 2002 concert in Philadelphia. Griffin sat calmly and stoically at his MacIntosh Powerbook and re-created his atmospheres. Fulton was lost among his huge banks of analog synths; his rig resembled the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. They blended their styles seamlessly there and they blend on this album as well. The mix is perfect, as neither artist dominates yet both receive equal footing. The dark atmospheres surround listeners with foggy textures and icy atmospheres. This CD will appeal to fans of Paul Ellis, Saul Stokes, and Ron Boots. [Jim Brenholts, All Music Guide]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
GZ -- "Switching Surface" -- CD-R -- €6
2007 Vapraksila.inc
Russian musician Egor Favorsky (GZ) has recorded his album "Switching Surface" using old analogue synthesizers and sound processing units, trying to keep his electroacoustic sound as close as possible to the remote 70-ies. During 40 minutes the experiment in sound happens, testing the acoustic systems of the listeners. [label info]
Harvest Rain -- "Night's Glow" -- CD -- €13
2006 War Office Propaganda, WOP 21
Masters of American dark folk in theirs newest full lenght album. 11 beautiful songs, 42 minutes of haunting, atmospheric and melancholic music. No need to say more, as in case of Harvest Rain's music no special recommendation is needed! Simply great CD! Glossy varnished digipack with original cover designed by Michal Karcz and reproduction of Tor Lundvall's paintings inside. [press-release]
[mp3]
Heasley, Tom -- "Where the Earth Meets the Sky" -- CD -- €12
2001 Hypnos, hyp2135
When I started playing this CD I didn't look at the press release or the cover (like I always try to do, to keep an ahum open mind) I thought this was just another Hypnos release: deep washes of sound, digital processing of synths or maybe guitars, but I was very surprised to find out that this was all made with a tuba, throat singing, loops and OK the usual digital processing. The four lengthy pieces go by floating really well with lots of small harmonies popping up, playing their tune and then disappearing again. Very nice release. [Frans de Waard, Vital Weekly]
Hexperos -- "The Garden of the Hesperides" -- CD -- €13
2007 Equilibrium Music, EQM019
“The Garden of the Hesperides” is the debut album by Hexperos, the new Gothic/Neo-Classical project by the soprano Alessandra Santovito, founding member of Gothica. The exotic Mediterranean fragrance of sensual percussion patterns, together with the low rumble of Francesco’s double bass and the soft keyboard pads enriched by the work of violinists Domenico Mancini and Alessandro Pensa, set the appropriate nocturnal atmosphere for Alessandra’s soaring voice to cast its spell - although Hexperos often brings to mind her past in Gothica, it is also obvious that her work has now reached a more mature stage. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
HIV+ -- "Overdose Kill me" -- CD -- €13
2006 Caustic Records, CRR013
After four albums very appreciated by the public as well as by the international dark press-media, and after a lot of collaborations and remixes (for Hocico, Sonar, Glis or Tamtrum among others) this Spanish artist who lives in France has created an industrial universe which has its roots in the more insane part of the human mind. With this new album Pedro Penas y Robles explores his favorite topics: the madness, the desire, the contamination, the drugs or the death, collaborating with the Swiss musician STENDECK and allowing remixes by the great Saverio Evangelista (member of ESPLENDOR GEOMETRICO/MSB) as well as by electro dark scene bands like OBSZON GESCHOPF, NOVO and DATARAPER. This excellent new album enters into complex universes of SKINNY PUPPY, DOWNLOAD or GRIDLOCK, without forgetting the rhythm n'noise structures that give his own personality to this artist. The album contains a video with two songs extracted from the HIV+ live at INFEST 2005. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
HIV+ -- "We Are All Haunted Houses" -- CD -- €13
2007 Caustic Records, CRR016 / Divine Comedy Records, DC 053
Caustic Records and the French label Divine Comedy presents "We Are All Haunted Houses" the 6th opus from HIV+, one of the leading figure from the "Made in France" Industrial Culture. With this new album (easily described as its darker and disturbing one), Pedro Penas Robles succeed in making tangible the worst childhood nightmares. Deeply influenced by coldwave and punk sounds from the early 80's, this release also benefits from the contribution of external musicians such as Lambwool, Electric Press Kit, Normotone (Neon Cage Experiment)and Riotmiloo with an acoustic approach. The Talented remixers Tannhauser and Bak XIII complete the casting. Both artwork and layout were created by the painter Wladd_Mutagene making this work a "must have" in the already impressive HIV+ discography. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Hoefler, Chad -- "Twilight in the Offing" -- CD -- €12
2004 Hypnos, hyp2246
Released on the Hypnos label - Twilight In The Offings consists of seven lengthy pieces all between five and ten minutes long. This is Chad's debut release and has been mastered by none other than Robert Rich. Track titles reflect the idea of inevitability with some beautifully poetic terms 'Crimson Lost', 'Enveloping Shadow', 'On The Eve Of Plum Frost'. This is an ambient album that can hold the attention - from the beautiful 'In A Marooned Moment' to the disquieting 'Enveloping Shadow' the considerable variety of sound from one track to the next pulls you along, caught one moment by a percussive line throbbing way below the surface, swept up the next by cinematic undulations or uneasy in the presence of looming apparitions. [Morpheus Music]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Horologium -- "Earthbound" -- CD -- €13
2008 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 107
The 3rd full-length album from Horologium, who offer 43 minutes of monumental, fierce, yet listenable music. Aided by TROY SOUTHGATE, MARIA SOUTHGATE, MERISSA D'ARLETTE and EUSTACIA VYE on vocals, Grzegorz Siedlecki takes you on a Nietzschean trip once again. Postindustrial dirt meets martial drums, opera arias and neoclassical sublimity. Do you remain true to the Earth? Some of the lyrics include fragments from H.Hesse, F. Nietzsche and O. Spengler. 'Earthbound' may also be perceived as an antidote to a slowly emerging neo-christian scene within the postindustrial/martial paradigm. Horologium scorn fanatics. Artwork designed by K.Meizter for a luxurious digipack release with additional booklet! [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Hum -- "Corvine Station II Extra Tracks" -- 3"CD-R -- €7
2008 self-released
This mini-album contains 3 tracks which continue the theme of the Hum / Misery / Exit In Grey split-release dedicated to crows. Transformed corvine voices interwoven with Hum trademark minimal and tranquil drone ambient.
Illusion of Safety -- "In Session" -- CD -- €14
2008 Waystyx, WR40, (ltd. 500)
Illusion Of Safety is one of the oldest post-industrial acts in the Americal musical underground, and in my opinion, of the most interesting projects ever. During 25 years of existence IOS have recorded a lot of various albums and their music has been changing a lot. Having passed through all the circles of industrial hell, Dan Burke has lost almost all his companions and remained alone. He hasn't released too many albums recently, and "In Session" released in 2008 has become a real surprise for me. I mean of course the fact of the release, because the highest quality of musical material and huge amount of pleasure while listening to it is guaranteed by any of IOS albums. "In Session" was recorded in 2007, the mastering was made by Thomas Dimuzio at Gench Music Studio. This is a very thorough and delicate work, an abstract performance in which synthetic and natural sounds mix in the most unusual combinations, when you really hold your breath to wait what's gonna be further. In 6 tracks of the album there are a lot of quiet microscopic sounds which whirl in front of the eyes like thoughts without rational content. They change into the smooth waves of melodic ambient, then to insane sampled collages which don't make you feeling relaxed keeping the constant tension. This shortening of the distance between contemplativeness and neural spasms has always been the trademark of IOS - it's interesting to watch how the musical structure transforms under the emotional passion hiding after each second of the track time, but not always going out. Separate compliments should be given to the artwork designer - you can observe the cover for a really long time being astounded by it's beauty. [Dmitry Vasilyev, Monochrome Vision]
[mp3]
Inade -- "Burning Flesh" -- CD -- €13
1993/2007 Loki Foundation, LOKI 24
Due to the big interest we decided to re-release the legendary "Burning Flesh" material from 1993 with all the bonus material that appeared already on the limited CD-Version in 2000 in a new sympathically remastered version done at Secretlab in June 2007. The soundscape is a pitch-black ambience in which peculiar sounds scramble about, ignites a rising wave of gloom, driven by the slow clatter of tribal hooves upon unearthly terrain. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Instant Movie Combinations -- "5.Now" -- 3"CD-R -- €5
2008 Abgurd, AB-34, (ltd. 50)
One of the very first tracks recorded during the summer of 2004. Grand static Drone Ambient for sleep experiments. [press-release]
[mp3]
Intrinsic Action -- "II" -- CD -- €10
2004 BloodLust!, B!046
"Aggressive and fully adrenalised Power Electronics / Extreme Noise feedback and ‘sado-electronics' from a project of Mark Solotroff (Bloodyminded). All tracks have been digitally remastered for CD." [Cold Spring description] American-style PE back from 1986!
Jiannis -- "Plugged" -- CD -- €12
1997 Spheric Music, SMCD 5001
After three cassette-releases and one contribution to the SYNTONIC WAVES II sampler, this is finally the first solo-CD by Jiannis. Long, hypnotic sequencer-tracks. For Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream-Fans (mid 70s). [label info]
[mp3] [mp3]
Johnson, James -- "The Butterfly Chamber" -- CD -- €12
2002 Hypnos, hyp2237
On The Butterfly Chamber, James Johnson offers to us freely the brilliant gleem of his intimate and universal sonic story. His musical devices create distance as well as common ground with Johnson here aimlessly wandering across the thin borders between Ambient, Quiet Music and New Age. Dreamy and languid, fragile and delicate, the airy pieces on The Butterfly Chamber seem likely to colapse inward were it not for the undertow of current gentley tugging them along. [Chuck Van Zyl, Star's End Radio]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Johnson, James -- "Entering Twilight" -- CD -- €12
2000 Hypnos, hyp2024
This 66 1/2-minute, one track CD reveals a style that may be part of the lineage of positive, gentle, cloudy ambient music that one finds on Steve Roach’s Quiet Music albums and in early Eno. It is a relatively low volume piece of music with gentle, melodic notes resounding and fading in and out of the deep. It more or less fills the space for an hour with bell tones, soft voice-like chorales and lots of resonant ambiance. The notes drift on the winds rather than work as distinct melodies, almost like MIDI controlled wind chimes. The title, Entering Twilight, is aptly descriptive, an album perfect for all-night repeat sessions. [Mike McLatchey]
The Joy Of Nature -- "The Empty Circle Part 1 - Swirling Lands of Disquiet and Catharsis" -- CD -- €13
2008 Ahnstern, Ahnstern31
The Joy of Nature is a multimedia project from the Azores, with music as its main focus (the Azores are a group of 9 islands between Europe and North America, belonging to Portugal). It was created in 1999 as "The Joy of Nature and Discipline", and reduced to "The Joy of Nature" in 2006, following a change in its sound - more organic and acoustic. Musically, "The Joy of Nature" is like a serpent always renewing itself - never resting in one shape, changing the form but keeping the same essence. “Swirling Lands of Disquiet and Catharsis” is the first part of a trilogy entitled “The Empty Circle”. Each part of the trilogy has a correspondence with the three main hermetic-alchemical phases: Nigredo, Albedo and Rubedo and, at the same time and correspondingly, to individual experience, inheritance of our ancestors and, finally, the overcoming of a mere individual state of existence. This first part corresponds to Nigredo. The subtitle of this work - “A Theatre lost in The Vast Abyss of Starry Skies” came in a lucid dream in which appeared the idea that this world in which we live our day-to-day lives can be compared to a small theatre in a vast abyss of starry skies. This album is about a world of disquiet, in which a catharsis should be done. To gather the impurities, realize their nature and build something pure from there. The music follows the concept - there are elements of Folk, Ambient, Psychedelic and Experimental music, mixed in a coherent way, creating a unique sound and a breathtaking atmosphere, predominantly acoustic and with dark tones. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Kirkwood, Jim -- "Tower of Darkness" -- CD -- €12
1993 Neu Harmony, NH001
'Tower of Darkness' is a fair representation of Jim Kirkwood's work - eerie, Gothic, atmospheric and powerful all at once. Electronic ambient with plenty of metallic rhythm and menacing overtones. [label info]
[mp3]
Kirlian Camera -- "Absentee" -- CD -- €13
2001 Radio Luxor, RL 20101
An companion EP to "Still Air". Four remixes of tracks from the album are to be found here, as well as a new version of "Blue Room" (originally from 1984) and several new tracks.
Kirlian Camera -- "Uno" -- CD -- €13
2002 Radio Luxor, RL 250302
Two releases on one CD. The first KC work ever remastered re-released here. In addition there is one previously unreleased track on it and the Dawn EP.
Kommando -- "Necroinvasiv" -- CD -- €14
2007 L. White Records, LW-050, (ltd. 300)
They digged very deep in the UMB-archive, and finally brought some really rotten, dirty, sticky "audio-corpses", dated from mid of the 90`s,to the surface. The material had been digitally cleaned and partly restructured for being presented for the very first time on cd. Well arranged power-electronics with distorted screams and aggressiv vocals, leads to the roots of this pre-THOROFON project. [press-release]
[mp3]
Kubusschnitt -- "The Cube" -- CD -- €12
2000 Neu Harmony, NH013
Kubusschnitt, a group with members scattered throughout Europe, comprehends the meaning of 70's spacemusic. On their CD The Cube, the listener easily becomes lost in the multi-layered patterns of sequencer tones as well as the nostalgia this style of electronic music is capable of generating. Complete with driving electronic rhythms, icy string pads and evocative synth and guitar leads, The Cube is an exciting journey into an imaginative sci-fi universe where the listener travels at the speed of music. [Chuck van Zyl, Star's End]
[mp3]
Kubusschnitt -- "The Singularity" -- CD -- €12
2001 Neu Harmony, NH020
Kubusschnitt consists of Andy Bloyce, Jens Peschke, Tom Coppens and Ruud Heij. Their third album is entitled The Singularity and contains all the classic elements of cosmic music first laid down by the Berlin School of EM that emerged out of Germany in the 1970s. Although inspired by music over 30 years old, Kubusschnitt provides the listener with a cerebral voyage as enjoyable as it is original. The genre came into being through a spirit of exploration and Kubusschnitt continues this legacy admirably. The Singularity is a success on many levels, but primarily due to Kubusschnitt's informed sensibilities when it comes to contour and dynamics. Good spacemusic follows an arc over time, the music and listener travelling together through many phases, terrains and zones. This album is a well conceived journey throughout its 73 minutes and combines the energy and spontaneity of a live performance with the articulation and refinement of a studio production... [Chuck van Zyl, Star's End]
[mp3]
L'Homme Eternel -- "Jour Gris De L'Homme Eternel - Sessia" -- CD-R -- €5
2008 Observatiore 20, (ltd. 28)
L'Homme Eternel is a collaboration project of two Russian musicians: Denis Shapovalov (Adriva, Sunchariot, Matter) and Alexander Selivanov (Mortart). The material was recorded within one evening of February 12th, 2008. Atmospheric and hypnotising ritual, which differs from their solo projects with its new mood and more bright sounding. [label info]
L'Homme Eternel -- "Maladie Orientale - Sessia" -- CD-R -- €5
2008 Observatiore 21, (ltd. 50)
L'Homme Eternel is a collaboration project of two Russian musicians: Denis Shapovalov (Adriva, Sunchariot, Matter) and Alexander Selivanov (Mortart). The second work of H.E. is made in the same vein, but more chaotic and surreal. It doesn't contain flowing tracks as before, but still has the mesmerizing ritualistic feeling. Like in the previous album here the most interesting think lies in live improvised sonorities. Sounds are like alive creatures from other dimensions inhabitating the surreal jungles, they frighten and surprise one's consciousness. In general, this is a rough and abrupt work. [label info]
Lanceolaria Im Licht Der Laterne -- "Olympus Mons" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Still*Sleep, CDR05
Dark aspects of human mentality – there is an area of Lanceolaria im Licht der Laterne. That is darkest the than the most incognizable, that remains unknown, even being placed under a lantern of reason. It is that part of human mentality which is hostile to the person. The space theme is actual and for this project, but space in it is submitted as an excited environment - as aggressive, as our subconsciousness. This small album is devoted to volcanic activity on planets and satellites of system of our star. In record of an album singing Buddhist monks, and set of the effects which have been written down in real-time is used, create stratification of sounds to listen attentively more and more. [from the author] Side-project of Interior Disposition (ID).
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Ligne Claire -- "s/t" -- CD-R -- €7
2007 Steelkraft Manufactory, SKM 001, (ltd. 100)
Ligne Claire is a project brought up by Bertrand Barrere, featuring David Delwiche (HYTC), Stephane Flauder (Fin de Siecle), Serge Usson (Neon Rain, Storm Of Capricorn), Christophe Gales (Westwind) and Delphine Riou. During a one year recording session, all these individuals contributed by internet, each adding his own elements to the previous work of others, in turns. The result is a perfect blend of old-school industrial, rumbling drone/ambient and raw power-electronics. [press-release]
[myspace]
Ma Ja Le / James Johnson -- "Seed" -- CD -- €12
2001 Hypnos, hyp2138
Seed is the long awaited and much anticipated studio collaboration between James Johnson and Ma Ja Le (Paul Vnuk, Jr. and Chris Short). The album is a natural follow-up to the y2k live CD, Live Under a Harvest Moon. The disc features a hybrid of two styles, neither of which dominates, both of which compliment. The new style is symphonic tribal minimalism. Ma Ja Le's tribal ambience interacts superbly with James's expansive and meditative minimalism. The artistes' mutual preferences for experiMENTAL sonic possibilities provide the recurring theme that holds the set together. The deep and ethereal ambience is absolute ear candy. There are distinct symphonic synthesizer echoes. Chris's "guitartronics" are subtle and powerful. James's "synthetic architecture" is gentle and dynamic. Paul's "synthscapes" are colorful and gray. [Jim Brenholts]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Majdanek Waltz -- "Cranes" -- 3"CD-R -- €6
2008 KultFront, KF-XI, (ltd. 150)
"Cranes" is a new single from Russian neofolk project Majdanek Waltz, who have previously praised the heavenly manifestations in the concept of WWII. This new release is dedicated to all the soldiers who fought for the freedom of Europe in 1939-1945. After the years the theme of ideological enmity doesn't loose it's topicality, but the band's music sates with wisdom and understanding of fallacy of fratricide. No More Wars Amongst Brothers - says the booklet of "Cranes" from Majdanek Waltz. Faces of loser soldiers as a pole of that dream where beautiful black birds fly... The discs are packed in KultFront traditional cardboard sleeves, tightened by black laces. [label info]
Majdanek Waltz -- "Cranes" -- 3"CD-R box -- €13
2008 KultFront, KF-XI, (ltd. 45)
First 45 copies of the single are accompanied by a special necessity set of an intellectual front soldier. Aside from the musical disk the fancy box contains materials aimed to help the deeper understanding of the beauty of the great war-song melody, of the sense of it's words. [label info]
Majdanek Waltz / Sal Solaris -- "Himmel Des Reichs / Der Himmel Über Berlin" -- CD -- €9
2008 KultFront, KF-X, (ltd. 500)
Split "Himmel Des Reichs / Der Himmel Über Berlin" is a re-issue of the most energetic recording of MW with remastered sound, with special support of their associated from SS. In fact the release continues the theme of MW's single "Cranes" - the theme of inanity of the confrontation between the two forces of brother-soldiers. And yet two poles can be distinctly seen here, divided both stylistically and ideologically. If four tracks of MW are the hymns of one of the confronting sides, performed at the meeting point of anxious military-industrial and dark-folk, four tracks of SS are the ambient-industrial memory of those who was at the other side of the front. The CD is accomplished by a thematical videoclip of SS "Der Himmel Über Berlin" created from archive video-materials. The author is a clip-maker Oleg Potiy (VJ Dornier Wal). The artwork contains rare photographs from 1939 when the fighters of both poles were still confederates. [press-release]
March Of Heroes -- "March For Glory" -- CD -- €13
2007 Rage In Eden, RAGE 57
March for Glory, a debut album of excellent French martial industrial act March of Heroes is an atmospheric neoclassical music inspired by events from the World War II, especially the war between Russia and Germany, the concept is to show everything that describe this terrible conflict ( heroism, brutality, desolation, propaganda, sadness...) something very pronouced in a such conflict. Musicaly MOH is more in the vein of Sophia or Karjalan Sissit, a must have for fans of military tunes. Nine tracks, 41 minutes, CD in digipack. [press-release]
[mp3]
Meelkop, Roel / Ielasi, Giuseppe / Stelzer, Howard / de Waard, Frans -- "Zondag" -- CD -- €10
2007 Port, PTCD003
A transborder collaborating album comprised of four leading figures in the world’s experimental music scene, which includes; Roel Meelkop (Roland SH101) whose musical activities date back to the 80's when he started THU20, and even now he still stands on the front line of Holland’s electronic music scene; Frans de Waard (Korg MS20), known as a representing artist in the European sound art scene thorough his projects such as Staalplaat, Kapotte Musiek; Giuseppe Ielasi (guitar, electronics) who organizes own label Fringes Recordings in Italy; Howard Stelzer (cassettes) who organizes Intransitive Recordings in America. As if answering to their pieces, Evala, an organizer of the Japanese label Port, carefully added a bonus track by destructing and restructuring them, which came out as an outstanding remix with the ultrahigh-density. The achingly beautiful album floats between improvised and electronic music with a vibrantly disturbing quality. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Messer Chups -- "Black Black Magic" -- CD -- €7
2002 Solnze Records, SCD 025
This Russian masterpiece twists you outta this world. Black Black Magic is Messer Chups most musical release… 50's B-Movie soundtracks, the guitar at times reminiscent of Ricky King, Sci-Fi Horror ala Ed Wood, the erotique of Russ Meyer – all in perfect combination with Lydia Kavina's (niece of Lev Termen, Theremin inventor) Theremin to mutate a sound so “retro”, that it sounds like the future.
The video for ‘Go Satan Go' features Russian Playmate of the year Natalya Simakova, guaranteeing even more kitsch. Messer Chups is a side project of one of the members of Russia's Messer fur Frau Muller. Each of their releases is slightly different in tone - they're all loaded with bits of musical and spoken samples, ranging from 1950s B-movies to cartoon sounds.This one, however, focuses more on surf-style guitar music and theremin. Now there's a combination you don't hear much of on CD these days! Messer Chups plays with these completely diverse sounds to create a wonderful musical style all their own. As usual, song titles are pretty indicative of the strangeness - although many of them are listed in Russian only. However, using software such as RealPlayer on your computer will show you the English titles, as I discovered. What can you say about songs called "Cat Religion" or "Cowboys, Indians and Their Parents"? All you need to know is that they really do sound both cool and strange. Aside from 13 excellent songs, there is also a CD-ROM video included on this disc, "Go Satan Go!," which comes from Messer Chups' previous release, Vamp Babes (which is every bit as good as this CD). Run, don't walk, to buy this CD - and all their others, while you're at it; you won't regret it! [Cheryl Shinfield, coldandstrange.com]
Messer Chups -- "Crazy Price" -- CD -- €7
2003 Solnze Records, SCD 032
The king of Russian lounge Oleg Gitarkin changes his image headily - his albums contain less samples and more exotic instruments. The 6th album of his project Messer Chups is recorded with the help of two theremin players - Lidia Kavina is now supported by her apprentice Barbara Buchholtz, - and harpists. All these instrumental rarities and amenities are crowned by a remix from a cult British band People Like Us. [label info]
Messer Chups -- "Zombie Shopping" -- CD -- €7
2007 Solnze Records, scd_zomb
The new album of Messer Chups is made in vein of classical surf of 50-60-ies with lots of retro-sound. Now the project also involves the drummer of Spitfire band, Kaschey. Oleg Gitarkin says about the new album: "The album was recorded with Denis Kaschey as a drummer. Bass guitar - Zombie Girl, she also plays saw. There's a lot of horror and cover-versions, for instance on a band from 80-ies Secret Service with the song "Flash Of The Night". This cover is dedicated to a kyschtymite space alien dwarf Alyoshenka who died in a Russian village but before that he lived for a month at a mentally deranged granny... There will be a clip on this coer too... Also there will be a nice lyrical cover of Piero song to Malvina... In general, the album is very lyrical, like a walk around the cemetary when instead of crosses you see only pluses..." [label info]
[mp3]
MH LMTH -- "'04-I" -- CD-R -- €8
Art of Anticreation, (ltd. 100)
Black Ritual Drone Ambient. Dedicated to the death of all living. Slimbox, black glossy cover, a sticker with a logo. [YAOP description]
MH LMTH -- "Muzick for Qliphotic Meditation" -- CD-R -- €8
Art of Anticreation, (ltd. 111)
Black Ritual Drone Ambient. Slimbox, black glossy cover, a sticker with a snuff photo. [YAOP description]
Monte Cazazza -- "Power vs. Wisdom, Live" -- CD -- €10
1996 Side Effects, dfx 15
The tracks from 1 to 9 were recorded at the "No Other Radio Network" KPFA fm, in California, on Halloween 1991. The tracks 10 and 11 were recorded at the F Club, in Leeds, UK 24.02.1980.
Moore, Thurston -- "Kapotte Muziek by..." -- mCD -- €10
2004 Korm Plastics, KP 3015
In April 2002, Kapotte Muziek returned to the USA for their second tour (the first one was in 1993), this as a trio of Frans de Waard, Roel Meelkop and Peter Duimelinks. On stop was at the rural city of Easthampton and the audience that night was rather small, but among them were Scott Faust, Gregory Whitehead and Thurston Moore. That particular concert showed Kapotte Muziek in probably their most fluxus element: the process of making music was made audible. The amplification of the opening of the bags, searching out objects to play and from there built the concert was a new, and as of yet, unrepeated, idea. For the 12th part in our series of 'Kapotte Muziek by...' we asked Thurston Moore to expand on this idea and in a totally free setting of piano, guitar and small objects, he recreates the concerts by removing the concert and replacing it by his own playing, where the original recording serves as a score... Thurston Moore is a well-known improviser, having played with Nels Cline, Loren Mazzacane Connors, Tom Surgal and William Hooker. Besides all of that, he also plays in rockband. [press-release]
[mp3]
Mortiis -- "The Smell of Rain" -- CD -- €11
2001/2002 Earache, MOSH 248 CDR
This album from Norwegian black metal pioneer, Mortiis delves into darkwave & pop sounds to create a dark, atmospheric infectious album reminiscent of Skinny Puppy, New Order, Enigma & Moby. Remastered edition. [label info]
Nadja / Netherworld -- "Magma to Ice" -- CD -- €12
2008 Fario, farioCD10, (ltd. 500)
Talented Italian ambient composer Alessandro Tedeschi runs the Glacial Movements record label and plays music as Netherworld. His fascination for polar landscapes and soundscapes makes him close to industrial ambient pioneers such as Thomas Koner, Rapoon, Biosphere and Lull. Icy, windy, droning and deeply 'protomelodic' at once, his music is a poetic translation of the ice floe. For this record, he used processed fragments of classical music. Nadja is the drone / doom / ambient duo of Canadian musicians Aidan Baker and Leah Buckareff. Their behemoth of sound is a construction of heat, weight, loop and vapour. Here, they had to break Netherworld's ice and find a way to the red core of Earth. The common track brings heat onto ice, which warms up, crackles and soon melts. As a conclusion, the long piece by Nadja is total heat. This is Nadja 'unrhythmed', which means pure lava. This CD features exclusive graphic concepts and artwork by Alan McClelland (www.eyelyft.com). [press-release]
Naevus -- "Soil" -- CD -- €13
2001 S.P.K.R., THUK I
The long sold out classican from Naevus available again in small quantity! CD comes in beautiful digipack.
Naevus -- "Truffles of Love" -- CD -- €13
2008 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 105
Inspired by seminal punk and new wave innovators (The Stooges, The Buzzcocks, Public Image Limited, The Birthday Party, Joy Division, Magazine, The Slits) Naevus was formed in London in 1998 by Lloyd James and Joanne Owen. Naevus’ playful self-released debut, "Truffles of Love" came out in 1999. Unavailable for several years, and much sought after by collectors, Naevus’ debut album is now reissued by Old Europa Cafe in newly re-mastered form, with significant sonic improvement on the original 1999 release. This re-issue also includes six bonus tracks dating from the same period. These tracks were previously only available on obscure compilations which were released in very limited quantities and are long-since deleted. The inclusion of this bonus material brings the running time of the CD to over 74 minutes and gives a complete picture of the early development of Naevus. The original artwork has been extensively overhauled and this edition is presented in digipak format and includes a 16 page booklet with lyrics to all tracks plus an essay on the band’s beginnings. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Nagle, Paul -- "Lore" -- CD -- €12
1999 Neu Harmony, NH008
Simply the most accomplished album Paul Nagle has ever released. He draws on the full wealth of his past experience to produce this stunning and unique example of melodic and sequential EM. [label info]
[mp3]
Nagle, Paul -- "Red Book / Blue Book" -- 2 CD -- €16
2001 Neu Harmony, NH018
The two CDs we have here have very different characters. You very well might like one disc when you are in a particular mood but then at another time you might prefer the other. 'Blue Book' is basically a feast of Sequences sounding very retro but with fantastically strong melodies where as 'Red Book' was inspired by a holiday Paul spent in China. He took recording equipment with him capturing the atmosphere of the places he visited through the sounds around him. [label info]
[mp3]
Napalmed -- "iii" -- CD -- €10
2008 Napalmed, 2008 CD 011, (ltd. 600)
Let us introduce third (?) album in self-release production as a continutity of previous full-lenghts "Up to the Ears in the Tinnitus" (1997, three compositions) & "Never Mind the MSBR, Here's the Napalmed" (2002, two tracks). Full-lenght, pro-pressed compact disc is packaged in really unusual pro-printed, oversized, hand-made cover. 80-minutes long track in actual line-up: Martin.B. + Radek.K. - industrial, noise, materials, effects, metals, water, vibes, waves, sounds, junk, grabage, breath, voice, shouts, graphics, photos. Careful home recordings, thoughtful mix & accurate mastering - both in superb proffesional studio. No music, no silence, nothing more than 'pure harsh industry impro noise' in Napalmed way! Main stuff improvisation 22/04/07, few additional sounds 10/08/06, both at schoolshebna. Mixed & mastered 17/11/07 at 'Deamon's Pit' by Daemon and Radek.K.. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Necrophorus -- "Moments of Sleeping Sadness" -- CD -- €10
2008 Tantric Harmonies, TANTRA X41
This is the anthology of the early tracks of Necrophorus. All titles created by Peter Andersson in 1991-1992 and appear on the first demo-tapes: ‘Sadness and Somnolence’ (1991) and ‘The Voices of Eternity Which Calls for the Captives of the Time’ (1992).
Neon Rain -- "Dirtier than the Dirt" -- CD -- €10
2003 Steelwork Machine, SMR01
Welcome to ritualistic industrial. Neon Rain hail from France and this is their first full-length legit release (on their own label), after a demo back in 2000 and a several compilation appearances. Loop based compositions minimal in nature, where oppressively paranoid moods dominate. Repetitiveness is central to the composition method, and the variety achieved through the use of analogue sound effects, saturated noises, unsettling vocal samples, monotone vocals, steel percussion, dark ambiences, drones is remarkable. Brutality, noises, rhythms and ambiences rub shoulder in a most effective way with the overall feel being quite dark and surreal. A soundtrack to a surreal, imaginary ritual. Neon Rain can be easily filed under avant-garde industrial, as they effectively couple loads of experimentation with the rawness of death industrial and with space ambient following no predefined schemes. A recommended choice for the bleak-industrial crowd. [Dark Life]
Neon Rain -- "We are Meat / The Vultures" -- 2 CD -- €14
2008 Steelwork Machine, SMR007
Between drone and power electronics, Neon Rain is carrying all the sufferings of working-class meat slaves on the first part of this release. From defiance to resistance, through synth-pop to post-industrial martial anthems, the second part is dedicated to all the people around the world who lead our societies to more chaos and destruction. A no man's land, the ultimate step to peace. [press-release]
Never Known -- "Once in a Lifetime" -- CD-R -- €9
1999 Afe Records, afe014cd
Never Known is the earliest music project of Andrea Marutti, best known as Amon and as Afe label owner. Andrea began his experiments with music in the early '90s using tapes and concrete elements. A few years later he also began to use synthesizers, samplers and other electronic devices, and founded the Lips Vago Digital Studio. Several releases of Ambient / Dark Ambient music were published by labels such as Eibon Records, Amplexus, Drone Records, Taalem, etc. on CD and other medias. Following "Dawn of an Era", "Once in a lifetime" was Never Known's second release. Recorded between August 1994 and August 1995, it was published by Murder Release as a C46 tape in September 1995. The tape was subsequently re-released on CD-R by Afe in March 1999. This is the first CDR edition, without remastering. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Nordvargr -- "For the Blood is the Life" -- CD -- €13
2007 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 097, (ltd. 666)
Musically we have an album of the finest darkambient music around, yet this piece also contains many other elements that we usually dont get served up by our household Swede - rythmic arrangements, faint melodies that flows in and out of our perception and the distinct sound of old 78 rpm acetate records. This is darkambient that makes you want to move because of the grooves, but also to check that noone stands behind you... Composed by Henrik Nordvargr Bjorkk during the winter of 2006/2007, this is his tribute to old folklore, myth and mysteries surrounding VAMPIRISM! A musical plunge into cold nights, abandoned castles and forgotten entities. [press-release]
[mp3]
Nueva Germania -- "Tanzbande 1937" -- CD -- €13
2005 S.P.K.R., THUK XXII, (ltd. 588)
11 tracks and one video on this tribute cd to Ralph Green and NON.
Numina -- "Eye of the Nautilus" -- CD -- €12
2005 Hypnos, hyp2548
One thing that becomes apparent listening to Numina's work is the craftsmanship is very high. For those that don't know his work it falls under the American ambient school, drones and floating textures with some rhythmic underpinning in places. Jesse Sola weaves his sounds with slow tonal shifting and that's one of my favorite aspects of his work is that unfolding quality which in the right hands is the musical equivalent of storytelling... Numina releases are very heavy on the synths. Jesse's work would appeal very well with those that prefer the synth as the main timbre... There's always a deeply Gothic quality to his work too... no fey crystal happiness here. The whole "Eye of the Nautilus" theme fits the sound perfectly as it spirals out of your speaker putting the whole room under a spell... A definite sonic psychedelic experience. [Paul Ellis]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Numina -- "Sanctuary of Dreams" -- CD -- €12
2004 Hypnos, hyp2445
Jesse Sola records as Numina. Sanctuary of Dreams, his first release on a major label (Hypnos Recordings), might be his best effort yet. In the past, his CDs have leaned to the darker sides of ambience. While this disc does have some ominous tones, the overall timbres are gentle and soothing. Sola's style allows the uplifting chords to be the overriding persona of this CD. He combines organic textures with languid atmospheres to create warm and friendly soundscapes. This disc is a friend. It will appeal to fans of Jeff Pearce, Remco Helbers, Markus Reuter, and Zero Ohms. [Jim Brenholts, All Music Guide]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Numina -- "Shift to the Ghost" -- CD -- €12
2007 Hypnos, hyp2650
Numina's third album on Hypnos Recordings is "Shift to the Ghost," a long-form continuous piece, which is a format that is actually fairly new for Numina, despite his many prior recorded releases. The album does include indexed track points for convenience in navigating through the CD, and each song is distinctly different in feel, but the songs evolve seamlessly into one another. The continuous, long-form ambient format works very well here, never droning on too much or dwelling too long in a certain sonic space. Numina himself states that the album "is about the life and death of the physical self," hence the title. Whatever the concept, this album contains all the elements Numina fans enjoy, from deep and sombre ambient, to twinkling, swirling space music, constantly evolving. It's a long, fascinating visual journey, and it never grows tired. The latest work from ambient "rising star" Numina is possibly his best yet. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Nurse With Wound -- "Homotopy to Marie" -- CD -- €13
1982/2007 Jnana Records, UNITED JNANA 366
Homotopy to Marie, originally released in 1982, was the fifth Nurse With Wound album. Steven Stapleton considers it to be the first "real" Nurse record as it was the first record he'd made without any intervention from his early partners. Its release also marked the point where Stapleton assumed the mantle of Nurse for all future releases. Musically, Homotopy is a brilliant example of Stapleton's tape editing and manipulation, producing a disturbing avant-garde collage that remains a stunning listen! Homotopy has been out of print for a few years and appears now with newly designed artwork in a six-panel digipack. This issue has also corrected the misplaced track index points which marred previous CD reissues. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3]
The Omega Syndicate -- "Analogue Waves" -- CD -- €12
2004 Neu Harmony, NH033
The Omega Syndicate is a new Berlin School act from England. The Omega Syndicate is Xan Alexander and Dave Gurr, sometimes also including Stuart Jackson. The debut album Analogue Waves was improvised and recorded over a year in Gurr's private studio, using analogue and digital synths and sequencers. The band compares itself to other retro-Berlin bands such as Air Sculpture and Radio Massacre International. [Glenn Folkvord]
[mp3]
The Omega Syndicate -- "Apocalypse" -- CD -- €12
2006 Neu Harmony, NH038
This is the third 'proper' album by the band and sees the introduction of a new member, Rob Clynes. He is a most wonderful guitarist, never twee but just knowing when to provide support work and when, very occasionally, to let rip. It is a CD which sees them mature still further into one of the best UK Electronic Music groups around. It is most certainly their best work to date. [label info]
[mp3]
The Omega Syndicate -- "Phonosphere" -- CD -- €12
2005 Neu Harmony, NH036
Second album of this UK-based Berlin School group.
[mp3]
Oophoi -- "An Aerial View" -- CD -- €12
2008 Glacial Movements Records, WSGM001, (ltd. 750)
"When I’ve been asked to describe the Ice Age with an uninterrupted drone, I knew I wanted to avoid the cliches of the genre: dark rumblings, massive low frequencies, cold atmospheres. I had to describe with sounds the white landscape, the blinding light reflected by the frozen oceans, the abyssal silence. I have imagined myself in flight over this Sleeping Earth, a solitary winged-being surrounded by winds, air, water and ice. This led me to compose an airy drone with minimal variations and delicate tones, an hommage to a pure, incontaminated and remote land." [from the author]
[mp3]
Ordo Equilibrio -- "Conquest, Love & Self Perseverance" -- CD -- €13
1998 Cold Meat Industry, CMI.64
Ordo Equilibrio return with their most complete release to date - an album that sees a perfect marriage of the sensibilities of the first album, and the stylistical approach of the second. We instantly recognize the atmosphere of ritualistic decadence; the crack of the whip, the ecstatic moans, and the sound of high heels. These attributes of sacrilege and fetishism blend seamlessly with the sounds of the acoustic guitars, chimes, and celestial strings - turning this album into an unequalled expose of apocalyptic industrial folk music at its best. [label info]
Otarion -- "Creator" -- CD -- €12
2002 Neu Harmony, NH025
Berlin School. Otarion has achieved a new high-water mark for melodic but sequencer supplemented EM. His compositions are consistently compelling and refreshingly multi-faceted, and most artists would take 3 albums to conceive of all the ideas that are expressed here. [Travis Briggs]
[mp3]
Otarion -- "Evolution" -- CD -- €12
2000 Neu Harmony, NH015
Berlin School. Mesmeric sequencing combine with the most infectious melodies to produce a hugely stylish collection of EM at its very best. [label info]
[mp3]
Otarion -- "Faces of the Night" -- CD -- €12
2004 Neu Harmony, NH032
Berlin School. While for some, the night may evoke gloom and dread, Otarion delves into other, more optimistic aspects of the evening. Dreams are explored, as is dancing under a lunar spotlight. There are a few tracks that examine Cimmerian nocturnal elements (such as nightmares and dark towers), but even these excursion into shadow produce a sense of strenuous idealism, reminding the listeners that a glorious morning is inevitable. [Matt Howarth]
[mp3]
Pacific 231 & Rapoon -- "Palestine" -- CD -- €14
2007 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 096, (ltd. 700)
Palestine is a face-2-face in memoriam between Pacific 231 & Rapoon to the late Bryn Jones 1961-1999 a.k.a. Muslimgauze. The production also support the justified struggle for a truly free Palestinian nation, a key issue for a middle-east liberated from foreign ingerance.
Music was the modus operandi Muslimgauze wanted to carry the message and music is the medium we want to continue to convey the legacy. This regular edition is in-fact also a special edition due to the special screen printed Protex-Box / Lever Kick-out box and for the black coloured playing side of the CD! [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3]
Pacific 231 & Rapoon -- "Palestine" -- CD + 3"CD -- €20
2007 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 096-SE, (ltd. 376)
Special Edition: 376 copies with an extra 3" Mini CD (real CD!). Featuring one exclusive Pacific 231 & Rapoon collaboration! The whole will be packed in a special screen-printed Raffia case.... This package reminds a lot to the old and very arty covers of Zoviet France albums. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Pantheon Legio Musica -- "Per Aspera ad Astra" -- CD -- €13
2008 Thonar Records, TR.12
Marching Drums, enchanting Flutes and Harps, epic Chorals and the strange feeling to live inside a movie which takes place in ancient Rome, somewhere between the legion’s march and the worship for a god, somewhere between Caesar and Marc Aurel, somewhere between the will to absolute power and the intuition of total decay, somewhere between history and imagination, somewhere between here and there is the Elysium of Pantheon Legio Musica and their house for all gods. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Pasquier, Genevieve -- "Soap Bubble Factory" -- CD -- €13
2006 Ant-Zen, act 181
Being a member of the legendary, now defunct German industrial project Thorofon, Genevieve Pasquier released her first work as a solo artist in 2003. Her first record, "Virgin Thoughts" caused enthusiastic reactions by both listeners and reviewers. The result was mix of electronic/post-industrial music and 80s-minimal-electro with a frigid but soulful voice. These even tempered tracks attracted a German and international fan base. "Soap Bubble Factory" is Genevieve's first album on CD - her previous efforts were vinyl only. All 12 CD tracks have never been released and they explore dark, electronic soundscapes ("Elements", "Mind-Whore"), sensuous industrial tunes ("Remember", "Tu Es Le Star") and driving retro-electro-songs ("Existance", "Soap Bubble Factory"). The vocals are perfectly balanced between being sung and spoken (in English and French) - and there's even enough space left for a little poem! "Soap Bubble Factory" is a perfect example of an artist converting their roots into something new. If references are requested then there are certain similarities to Cosey Fanni Tutti, Caroline K or mrs. Arafna / November Noevelet. Genevieve Pasquier is now a name that should be mentioned along with these musicians. [press-release]
Pasquier, Genevieve -- "Virgin Pulses" -- CD -- €13
2006 Ant-Zen, act 191
Genevieve Pasquier's debut CD "Soap Bubble Factory" introduced this outstanding artist to listeners who do not have access to a record player (having a vinyl collection isn't expected anymore). Now, after countless customers' requests, both Genevieve and Ant-Zen are presenting G.P.'s finest vinyl tracks on compact disc (for the first time). What you will find is the complete "Virgin Thoughts" LP, three 7" tracks, "Fairy Tale" from the split-10" with Bastards Of Love, G.P.'s "In Stahlgewittern II" compilation contribution - and the previously unreleased "Blitzkrieg Baby" (part 1 and part 2). The style ranges from distorted noise-influenced industrial ("Don't Think I Am...") to dark electro beats ("Pulse"); also included is her take on a pop tune ("Today the Disco"). This retrospective shows Genevieve's artistic variety right from the beginning. The mastery of many electronic sound facets, combined with her exceptional voice - claiming, alluring, repelling, suspicious - was and will be G.P.'s trademark. All of this is perfectly displayed on this truly fine release. [press-release]
Pearce, Jeff -- "Bleed" -- CD -- €12
2002 Hypnos, hyp2241
Sublime. Jeff is one of my favorite composers at the moment. Instead of being an AMBIENT musician he's an ambient MUSICIAN. Jeff plays beautiful melancholy guitar treated with verb and delay with the utmost taste. Touchstones might be Satie, Tim Story, Patrick O'Hearn, but I wouldn't take those references too literally as Jeff has a touch of his own. There is a rare quality in a musician where on hearing their music you are effortlessly transported into a very deep place inside yourself which I believe can only happen when the composer is doing the same. There is a beautiful detached outer quality in the sustaining reverb, but his touch on the strings brings it inside so the music is simultaneously near and far away. Highly recommended. [Paul Ellis]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Pearce, Jeff -- "The Light Beyond" -- CD -- €12
2001 Hypnos, hyp2132
Hypnos is pleased to announce the latest by Jeff Pearce, The Light Beyond. His followup to the beloved & highly-acclaimed 2000 album To the Shores of Heaven, The Light Beyond shares its predecessor's basis of smooth, guitar-based atmospheric clouds, both dark and light. But The Light Beyond explores more abstract, open-ended and free-form compositions, with one track almost forty-four minutes in duration, in the midst of three shorter pieces. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Pearce, Jeff -- "To the Shores of Heaven" -- CD -- €12
2000 Hypnos, hyp2022
Perhaps the best of all the ambient composers, Jeff Pearce uses only multi-tracked electric guitars for incredible effects and harmonics. By plucking the strings just before recording begins or with the volume low and then catching the sustained notes, he creates a shimmering glaze of ethereal musical vapors. This is space music at its most ingenious and transportational best. Throughout each piece, the music continually transforms into new chords that appear and fade in gradual sublime succession. Only on "A Fading" and "Veil of Lake Snow" is it discernible that Pearce is using electric guitars, since the notes have finite beginnings. For a magnificent journey to the depths of inner and outer space, this is one of the most enjoyable ambient albums of the year. [Ted Cox, New Age Retailer]
Phallus Dei -- "Nature Mortes" -- CD -- €12
2001 Paragoric, PA 23
After the MCD "Luxuria" (with CD-ROM tracks), here comes the brand new studio album. Much more romantic, dark, and elaborate and containing beautiful atmospheres. Melancholy string arrangements and Gregorian chants are alternated by atmospherical flute-improvisations which fade into a pulsating industrial beat. Acoustical apocalyptic folk songs next to ambient techno soundscapes. PHALLUS DEI interprete the Greek myth and challenge the listener, revealing it`s wealth of sounds and instruments and ideas to anyone with an open mind and a sense for the beauty of life`s tragedy. [label info]
[mp3]
Philips, Stephen -- "Into the Dark" -- CD -- €12
2007 Hypnos, hyp2751
Into the Dark is a beautifully restrained and elegant piece of ambient music reminiscent of Neroli by Brian Eno, and Entering Twilight by James Johnson. Moving patterns of sounds, varying from bell-like chimes to deep rumbles vaguely-ethnic rattles, interact and react to create an always-shifting atmosphere, a sense of "place" and mood while avoiding ambient music cliches. Stephen Philips is a prolific ambient music composer, best known as founder of Dark Duck Records, and he has collaborated with such diverse and respected artists as Numina, Austere, IXOHOXI, Ben Fleury-Steiner, James Johnson, Rigel Orionis, Ben Summers, and Isomorph. He has frequently performed live, and has worked in styles ranging from drone minimalism to glitch to deep chill, mostly centering around restrained ambience. A single, continuously-evolving track of over 74 minutes, Into the Dark works great as a background atmosphere for continuous repeat play. But like the best ambient music, it is appealing enough for careful listening as patterns repeat and evolve, and themes emerge throughout. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Pickford, Andy & Nagle, Paul (S.T.D.M.) -- "Ramayana" -- CD -- €12
2002 Neu Harmony, NH028
Berlin School. The music is flowing, sometimes gently but at other times like a raging current. There are elements of trance in here but rhythmically much more inventive and the sequences stronger than much of that style. The melodies are also superb, often subtle but always captivating. [label info] Although possessing some Berlin School traits, this music displays a healthy, modern quality that carries a distinctly unique style...surging pulsations that conspire to create electronic tempos of often-frantic pace, interweaving riffs that coalesce into mighty panoramas of sound rich with astral undertones. [Matt Howard]
[mp3]
Polygon / Halbschlaf -- "Kalt" -- CD -- €11
2002 Polymorph Records, POLYMORPH 08, (ltd. 700)
Two projects ... One concept ... Kalt! This collaboration of Halbschlaf (ex-Ambit) and Polygon comes up with two pieces of music with 30 minutes playtime each. Both tracks are parted into several chapters. Rhythmic songparts and dark ambient soundscapes recalling memories of other releases of Polymorph Records, as "Omnon" or "Solaris". [label info]
Psychic TV -- "Live in Gottingen" -- CD -- €12
2003 Temple Records, TEMPVP005CD, (ltd. 1000)
Fifth album in the new series of officially endorsed live recordings by the legendary Psychic TV was recorded during May 1984 in Gottingen, Germany. Each release in the series is a limited edition of 1000 copies and comes with detailed sleeve notes from leader Genesis P Orridge and information about Psychic TV's activities and philosophy. Psychic TV were formed by self confessed cultural terrorist Genesis P Orridge after the demise of his previous band Throbbing Gristle. [label info]
Psychonaut -- "Liber Al Vel Legis" -- CD -- €11
2001 Athanor, ATNR 013, (ltd. 500)
Liber Al Vel Legis is Psychonaut's recording of Aleister Crowley's THE BOOK OF THE LAW. In Egypt in 1904 Crowley was visited by an entity regarded by Crowley to be his Holy Guardian Angel, and for three consecutive days at an appointed time Aiwass dictated to Crowley. By the end of the third session the text was complete. It was called The Book of the Law, and it prophesized the dawning of a new aeon for mankind. Its main tenet was the much quoted and much misinterpreted: Love is the Law, Love Under Will... Liber Al was recorded by Michael Ford while conducting the Ritual for the Attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of His Holy Guardian Angel. This working includes living in a secluded area (or away from human contact) for a period and performing the operation of the Sacred Magick of Abramelin the Mage. Liber Al or the Book of the Law (given to Crowley by his own Guardian Angel ) represents a dawning of human ascension into Godhood, becoming through a well developed Body of Light. This can be also refered to as Lucifer, the ideal of Light and Wisdom, Faustian Knowledge... This recording conducted by Michael Ford alone represents the first ever Psychonaut recording, although its release was much delayed and was in fact preceded by The Witches Sabbath and a single dedicated to Austin Osman Spare. Remarkably this represents the FIRST EVER RECORDING of The Book of the Law. Liber Al Vel Legis is constructed from looped rhythms many fashioned from human bones, and eerie atmospheric backing created by woodwind instruments. A multi-tracked voice intones the text. At times almost Eastern motifs appear as if to represent the street sounds of Cairo... Psychonaut have claimed inspiration from both early CURRENT 93 and ZERO KAMA and it is to the nightmare twilight world that Liber Al Vel Legis inhabits. Michael Ford, Chaos author and guiding force behind Psychonaut, hopes that listeners treat the album as ritual musick to provide a magickal link between the self and the Holy Guardian Angel. [press-release]
Psychophysicist -- "s/t" -- CD -- €11
1996 Side Effects, dfx 18
Researched and developed by A. Newton (T.A.G.C.) and A. McKenzie (The Hafler Trio). All recordings made at the Electroacoustic Music Studios, Stockholm, utilizing anechoic chambers and Ircam linked computer systems, except the 1st track, recorded at the Anterior Digital Research Station. Direct to disc edit by B. Lustmord, assisted by A. Newton at Scientific Electric, Los Angeles, 1994. [label info]
Puissance -- "Mother of Disease" -- CD -- €13
2008 Equilibrium Music, EQM021
"Mother of Disease" is the third full length album produced by Puissance, and also their third re-issue on Equilibrium Music, following the early "Let Us Lead" and "Back In Control" releases, and last year's new album, "Grace of God". Much like it's predecessors on this fine collection, it has been re-mastered and enhanced with one bonus track, presented in a matte-blue deluxe digipak edition. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Reformed Faction -- "The War Against..." -- CD -- €13
2007 Soleilmoon Recordings, SOL 153 CD, (ltd. 400)
Reformed Faction is a new band featuring Robin Storey and Mark Spybey. “The War Against...” is their second CD, following “Vota” (Klanggalerie, 2006). This new album was cultivated from hours of improvisations made whilst watching Werner Herzog movies and drinking red wine. Spybey would record Storey and then manipulate the sounds, combining rough mixes of the pieces with sounds of his own. Although the most of the music was recorded over the course of a weekend, it took several months to assemble the album. Themes from the recording sessions were played in live concerts and then reworked for the final version of the album. “The War Against” is presented in a lavishly produced cardboard minibox with pictures featuring postcards of artwork by the band. [label info]
Rehberg, Peter -- "Kapotte Muziek by..." -- mCD -- €10
2006 Korm Plastics, KP 3022
The fourteenth installment in this series is a mini CD by Peter Rehberg. For his rework, Rehberg used the recordings of the very first Kapotte Muziek workshop (and concert) held in september 1997, as part of Staalplaat's 'Masterclass' event at the Korzo Theatre, in Den Haag. Rehberg moved away from the digital computer noise recently and for this work crafted together a beautiful soft but outspoken piece of music. The piece lasts 17:30. [press-release]
[mp3]
RemoteBand -- "Pinche Madre" -- CD-R -- €7
2008 Abgurd, AB-36, (ltd. 100)
Moscow project with a short but rich history. The only person standing behind REMOTEBAND began his experiments with sound as REMOTE and created mindblowing Harsh Noise and some bizarre electroacoustics. In that short period there were some performances with Nikita Golyshev of CD-r. It's a pity but we think there is not a single chance to listen to any recordings from that period though those were really fascinating. In some time the musician became interested in softer kinds of electronic music, changed his name to REMOTEBAND and gave a few concerts in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg charming audiences with Space Drone Ambient/Noise. We offer six tracks from the latest period of REMOTEBAND art. Guitar, voice, analogue synthesizers, lots of effects, various pre-recorded samples. All these means of soundexpression very smoothly, skilfully and gently interlace into thick and rich intellectual Drone Ambient with some noisy touch and futuristic moods. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3]
Reuter, Markus -- "Digitalis" -- CD -- €12
2001 Hypnos, hyp2128
A varied album of abstract and experimental ambient music put forth from this interesting German composer. Better known as one of the four members of The Europa String Choir, He uses a rather unique instrument referred to as a Warr Guitar. This is an 8-stringed guitar, which has a very different sound over the conventional guitar. The music presented on this album is not your typical ambient. It's a spacey album, full of chaotic swirling samples. The first half of the album is restless, ceasing to slow down. Slowly, the drawn out chaos turns dark and distant. Ever so slowly blending in with the next track. The progression is built from the first track to the last, making this a nice long journey into something special. Capturing harmony and originality, the artist makes this experiment work. A hard album to digest upon the first listen, but given time turns into a unique classic. [jackthetab, Discogs]
Rich, Robert -- "Calling Down the Sky" -- CD -- €14
2004 Soundscape, SP006
Heavy weather tailed me during Summer 2003, as I circled the country giving concerts. From wind storms in the desert to tornadoes in the Midwest, flooding in the East and lightning on the high plains, the sky exerted its influence. All came into focus during this improvised house concert in Denver, a journey joined by a circle of 26 friends. A dialog between music and the elements took form like a shamanic exchange, an act of supplication in respect to stronger forces, calling down the sky to return a gift from the clouds. [from the author]
Rich, Robert -- "Open Window" -- CD -- €14
2004 Soundscape, SP007
While better known for his electronic textures, Robert Rich often includes piano solos during his live concerts. Open Window documents his improvisational approach to acoustic piano, with influences ranging from Alan Hovhannes, G.I. Gurdjieff and Erik Satie to Terry Riley and Keith Jarrett. Rich chose to record Open Window on his own 1925 vintage A.B. Chase baby grand, an instrument with a more intimate sound than a full-size concert piano. Over a period of two months, he kept a daily schedule of piano improvisation, with microphones set up to record at all times. The pieces selected here reflect special moments during this concentrated period. These were the moments when effort vanished, and the music seemed to write itself. [press-release]
Rich, Robert & Reuter, Markus -- "Eleven Questions" -- CD -- €14
2007 Unsung Records, UR003
This international collaboration was conceived, composed and recorded in person in one intense week at Robert Rich’s Soundscape studio in California. Robert Rich is arguably America's most highly regarded ambient musician and composer. With a discography spanning over 20 years, he is widely regarded as a figure whose sound has greatly influenced today‘s ambient, new age, and even IDM music. Touch Guritarist Markus Reuter is known for his adventurous work with Centrozoon and Tuner. Unlike most releases of the ambient/electronica genre, each piece on Eleven Questions has an instant appeal. The songs form concise statements and mostly feature acoustic and electro-acoustic instruments (lap steel, touch guitar, piano, acoustic guitar, flutes), rather than synthesizers. With audiophile sensibilities, Rich and Reuter employed the best of custom tube, vintage and contemporary studio equipment to craft a unique sonic landscape. [press-release]
Roach, Steve -- "Arc of Passion" -- 2 CD -- €17
2008 Projekt, PROJEKT202
Although Steve Roach has been around such a long time in ambient space music, he’s still able to suprise me after all these years. The origins of the double album "Arc of Passion" came forth from a three month period of intensive touring and studio sessions, in which Steve weaved elements of his three definitive styles into a continuous, evolving flow. Steve Roach describes the outcome as the "deeper end of my tribal ambient sound", and surely draws parallels to previous albums like "Proof Positive" and "Mystic Chords". Both discs contain 50 minutes of carefully sculptured and shaped, slow morphing textural and sequenced music in which Roach’s ongoing search for even deeper, and further layered soundcurrents becomes apparent. It’s a grand piece of precision and passion featuring beautiful sequences and great bridges between the different soundworlds, all made by a musician who’s quest for the deep end of sounds never seems to stop. All in all, "Arc of Passion" is a truly solid release that any Roach fan will fully embrace. [Sonic Immersion]
Roach, Steve -- "The Dream Circle" -- CD -- €14
1994/1999 Timeroom Editions, TIM00003
A cd that is very fractal in its nature. One section is representative of the overall work. It's wallpaper music that you don't have to actively participate in when you have it on, put it on, sit down and breathe to, do your mundane things, take a nap, focus, etc. Music you use more than music you listen to. [dexterfeng, Discogs]
[mp3]
Roma Amor -- "s/t" -- CD -- €12
2008 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 106
Charming Italian Neo Cabaret’n’Folk band with intense deep female voice, poignant accordion, essential guitar, tough bass and velvety percussions. An eleven-cut debut including an amazing cover version of Jacques Brel’s Next! Romantic songs with a taste of Italian folk tradition and rough cabaret stuff from nostalgia up to present. Try the dark side of folk-cabaret! For those who rely on traditional love songs, retro tavern music and noir cabaret. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Rukkanor -- "Deora" -- CD -- €13
2007 Rage In Eden, RAGE 55
This title needs no special introduction. In answer to huge demand after sold out first edition, here comes the reprint of this critically acclaimed album, with new artwork made by Michal Karcz. An original mix of styles and cultures. Oriental melodies and rhythms, live percussions and synthetic beats, ethereal sounds and electromilitary marches, gregorian and muezzin chants, symphonic and jazzy instruments. Electrocrusade back again! [press-release]
[mp3]
Runa -- "Surrounding Us" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Boyanov Gimn / VORON, VORON-002-cd
Slavic Etherial Ambient Electronic recorded with the use of reconstructed "sopel" (authentic wooden flute instrument) and a melody from XI century, restored by Dnepropetrovsk Museum of People Instruments, aided by field recordings and samples. [YAOP description]
Rusalnaia -- "s/t" -- CD -- €15
2007 Camera Obscura, CAM 082CD
Recorded in two sessions through 2007 when Sharron Kraus & Gillian Chadwick teamed up with engineer Greg Weeks, who helped capture the duo's organic & sometimes unusual instrumentation, from dulcimer & guitar to pennywhistles & goat's nail shaker, and contributed his own accents to a few tracks: acid Les paul leads & vintage 70's syths. Eight tracks of haunting, ritualistic, magical pagan-folk were the result, varying from the darkly processional tale of dispossession "Shifting Sands", though the Comus-like ceremonies of the title track, to the extended forest-folk trance on the concluding "Wild Summer". [label info]
[mp3]
S.E.T.I. -- "Knowledge" -- CD -- €10
1995 Ash International / Soleilmoon Recordings, ASH 2.3
S.E.T.I. stands for Searching for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence and it's a project of Andrew Lagowski (Legion). "Pure electronic ambient, but it's quite melodic, so you can try it even if you're not into drone / ambient things. Some really moving harmonies, especially the 3 track. It's definitely THE absolute "space music" experience." [Tonton Mahood]. CD version contains one extra track comparing to vinyl version.
S.Q.E. -- "Rise of the Vulcans" -- CD -- €12
2006 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 080
Out of the abyss but not out of the darkness. Electro-acoustic production interwoven with heavy rhythms, minimal songwriting, ominous vocals and neatly placed in a vacuum, high quality recordings & sounds which have their roots into neo pop'n'folk, dark ambient, dubbing-drones... This is the 2nd full length release from NY based artist J. Greco. Sometimes aggressive, and other times distant, but without loosing continuity. Featuring vocals from Tracy Jeffrey (Orchis), Tony Wakeford (Sol Invictus), and Kris Force (Amber Asylum),
and featuring additional collaborations with Ure Thrall (Asianova / Voice of Eye), and Alan Trench (Orchis). [press-release]
Sacher-Pelz -- "In Hoc Urbia Miazi" -- CD -- €13
2007 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 090
After more than 28 years the seminal contamination by Maurizio Bianchi / MB called "Sacher-Pelz" is finally back with dyslexic hollows
in the hypertoxic forewarning of scrupulous connoisseurs: "In Hoc Urbia Miazi" is its irrational title, and you should take note of this for your survival! Uncompromising & best quality old-school industrial-noise like in the very early "Come Organisation" times by this Italian CULT project! [press-release]
Sanfilippo, Bruno -- "InTRO" -- CD -- €12
2006 AD21music, ad107
From the start, InTRO sets a relaxing, reflective mood. Sanfilippo maintains a consistent mood, which means the CD makes an ideal sountrack for relaxing and thinking. Eno has suggested that ambient music must be listenable as well as ignorable, supporting various levels of attention, and the tracks on InTRO are excellent examples of this idea. Highlights of the CD include InTROpiano, which recalls Vangelis Memories of Green and the Brian Eno/Harold Budd classic, The Pearl; and InTROvoices, which uses wordless voice sounds to create a choral and even orchestral texture. InTRO is one of the finest ambient releases we've heard this year. [Synthtopia.com]
Sanfilippo, Bruno & Grassow, Mathias -- "Ambessense" -- CD -- €12
2008 AD21music, ad109
There is a clear connection between Ambessence and the previous Sanfilippo's title Piano Textures. The floating, timeless quality of the piano notes is still here, but now the effect is more intense with Grassow's textures couched in subtle drones. Moments of irresistible beauty silently vibrate and resonate inside, opening a vast inner space of clarity and spiritual emotion. This work seems to require an intuitive mode of perception that seeks to overcome chaotic multiplicity and establish contact with a deep and authentic unifying essence. Beneath the calm waves of Ambessence lies the promise of bliss. [Marius-Christian Burcea, RFI Romania]
Seelenthron / Traum'er Leben / Trinithos -- "III" -- CD -- €13
2008 Heimatfolk, HF 02
"III" is a 3-way split album by the classic German NeoFolk bands SEELENTHRON, TRAUM'ER LEBEN and TRINITHOS. On this album each band interprets their favourite songs by the other 2 bands + one own new song by each artist. the finale of "III" is a bonus track by Alexander Meier (Seelenthron) - a fantastic, neoclassical coverversion of a Soulsearch/Sturmpercht song. The 3 bands are well known and highly recommended in the German NeoFolk scene, as they are all fantastic musicians and great live-artists. Seelenthron and Traum'er Leben have already released several outstanding albums, but for Trinithos "III" is the debut-release (beside some very limited CDR releases). The first album by Trinithos comes in early may 2008 on HEIMATFOLK. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Seraphim -- "Fearscapes" -- CD -- €12
2004 Torpor Records, T 08
24 (untitled) tracks, 74 minutes, a wide variety of musical styles. Quantitatively there is nothing to complain about the debut album of this German project, which follows a 7" single on Eternal Soul. “Fearscapes” comes in a nicely designed digipack and is very enjoyable through the varied musical styles and the overall high quality, especially for a relatively new act. Apparently this is the second part of the “Zorngericht”-trilogy, after a limited cd-r... The basis of many songs are formed by melodic neo-classical sounds, sometimes bombastic, at other times more ambient-like, often with grave gothic vocals. An act like Leges des Heils comes to mind now and then through the ‘military pop’ melodies. A more martial track like #8 reminds me of Hekate, while other heavier parts make think of the scene around Wappenbund... As I said before, the variation causes many surprises. The fourth track for instance mixes a metal guitar riff with electronic beats, on top of which a melodic synth layer has been placed. Furthermore quite some 80’s wave/electro influences have been incorporated. A few songs even have distorted dark electro vocals, most noticeable on tracks #6 and #13. There are also darker ritual pieces and softer ambient moments to be found... [Funprox]
Skincage -- "Things Fall Apart" -- CD -- €13
2007 Spectre, S28
It took Jon Ray six years to create his second CD. And after those six years he took a bit of distance to his works and he saw it was good. Spectre Records is proud to present ‘Things Fall Apart’, that ‘difficult’ second release by the project Skincage. In twelve tracks you are given a tour through the mind of Skincage, a tour among things that did, will or could fall apart. ‘Bhopal’ and ‘Chernobyl’ already reached an impressive level of destruction, while ‘Hungry Ghosts’ are still unaware of their new existance. ‘Things Fall Apart’ is mainly created with broken or somehow manipulated selfmade instruments, as broken or manipulated as the thoughts that formed the soil in which they grew. The story which is told on the darkest lovesong ever - entitled ‘Calling Home’ - is the ultimate proof that ‘Things Fall Apart’ is an album made in difficult times. It has a reason that the creator of this advises solitude and headphones to fully “enjoy” the tracks. It took God six days to create the world and a seventh one on which He laid back and relaxed. Then He decided it was good ... Are we the only one seeing the resemblance? [press-release]
Snog -- "The Last Days of Rome" -- CD -- €13
2007 Hymen Records, Y763
What's piquing our curiosity, aside from the apocalyptic title 'The Last Days Of Rome' and the confusing art-cover, made by Chris Wood and Richard Grant (who craftily subverted the Cadillac SUV ad), is this new change of route of David Thrussell, aka Snog, very skilled in perpetuating the channels of pop and of his oblique media-social critique, always varying his style. This time, the sequences seem to converge towards downbeat atmospheres permeated by rock influences. Melancholic and cinematic atmospheres are the background of ancient Rome in its darkest days, an all-too-explicit metaphor of the corruption and decay of power. It's a very fascinating album, even though it's not very 'electronic', but this artist has already leaned towards the song form in the past, still coherently keeping the energy levels and his activism high. [Aurelio Cianciotta, Neural]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Snog -- "Planet of Shit" -- CD -- €12
2006 Psy-Harmonics, PSY-061
After over 30 dates across the U.S.A, Europe and Russia SNOG return home in one piece (we hope) to launch their new remix album 'Planet of Shit'. As the title suggests it's an album over-brimming with the tenderness and subtly we've come to expect from Melbourne's favourite Dark Electro Anarchists. The album features 18 tracks including remixes by Killing Joke's Kris Kylven, U.K dirty-trance outfit Manmademan, Russian electro-rockers Recently Deceased, Black Lung, Zen Paradox, (new Psy-Harmonics signing) White Noise Carousel and many others (twelve remixes in all!) with five brand new songs rounding out the set. [label info]
Srapionov, Eduard -- "Biologic" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Observatiore 22, (ltd. 38)
The newest recording of a noise artist from Rostov, Russia. Eduard (Papa Srapa) has done a lot of live performances with immutable manipulations on his self-made chemical synthesizers. His artistic approach to composing and wide separate range of frequencies are very impressive during his gigs. The most significant individual character of the project is the combination of his engineering inventions with the creative aims. This CD is a first edition after his own demo-releases, it contains 6 tracks totally in 50 minutes. [label info]
Stalnoy Pakt -- "ROA" -- 3"CD-R -- €8
2008 ALF Produkzion, ALF Produkt No. 11, (ltd. 124)
New Stalnoy Pakt material is dedicated to the phenomenon of ROA (Russian Liberation Army), who fought for Hitler during WWII. Historical collaged martial industrial.
Stalnoy Pakt -- "ROA" -- 3"CD-R -- €12
2008 ALF Produkzion, ALF Produkt No. 11, (ltd. 30)
First 30 copies come in handmade artwork with a special stripe.
Stokes, Saul -- "Outfolding" -- CD -- €12
2000 Hypnos, hyp2023
Saul Stokes is a very characteristic artist specialized in the electronic ambient/experimental music. In his recordings he tends to use primarily, as the basic sources of his sound, the modular analog synthesizers as well as other electronic instruments he himself builds, yet his music possesses a modern touch, fresh and daring indeed, masterfully managing the technology at his disposal. A supporter of live performances, his sound is challenging and dynamic. His music flows, evolving, never losing its intrinsic beauty, deep, hypnotic, with electronic undercurrents that lead to atmospheres full of a soft energy, at times with space or cosmic brushes, and always having in mind the exploration of new soundscapes with a creativity that can hardly be surpassed. [Andreu Montse, Amazing Sounds]
Stokes, Saul -- "Washed in Mercury" -- CD -- €12
1997 Hypnos, hyp1602
A very rhythmic and melodic album, full of dynamics and uplifting sounds, I was impressed with its original style, due to the fact that Saul Stokes is the creator of all his electronic instuments, and has obviously designed them to give way for his own unique touch. The lack of slow drifting ambience, everso present in all other Hypnos releases, therefore cannot be considered as a drawback, but should be viewed upon differently, in light of the specific Stokes auditory expression. [Vladimir Jovanovic, Inner Space Radio]
Stokes, Saul -- "Zo Pilots" -- CD -- €12
1998 Hypnos, hyp1807
Somehow I missed out on Stokes' debut CD and now I regret that. Building his own electronics and still being able to create a sonically fascinating world is something not many people can do. Yes, listeners... if the word 'world' comes around, it's ambient time again and I stated it before and here again: Hypnos are a strong label to release this music. Stokes is no different: a great talent of creating outerworld, outerlimit sounds that is dark. In comparision to the other recent Hypnos CD's, Stokes uses rhythms, not in a techno fashion, but much more in a machine like humming way. Spacey, yet down to earth. Highlights for me are the cosmic 'First Jump' and the laid back 'Fast Creatures.' But the other five are top too! [Frans de Waard, Vital Weekly]
Subhuman -- "[untitled III]" -- 3"CD-R -- €4
2008 Abgurd, AB-50, (ltd. 50)
Final part in the history of the project. The first two 3" CDrs gained a lot of attention and and good reviews, many people asked if any continuation would happen. If [untitled I] was rather bombastic, with neoclassic elements, whereas [untitled II] shifted emphasis to ambiences and minimal use of instruments while being more industrial — [untitled III] merges those two sides of Martial genre, combining light and touchy melodies with deep background ambiences. [press-release]
[mp3]
Syndromeda -- "The Alien Abduction Phenomenon" -- CD -- €12
2001 Neu Harmony, NH017 / Groove Unlimited, GR-055
The Alien Abduction Phenomenon features Syndromeda, nee Danny Budts, doing what he does best. This densely atmospheric and heavily sequenced CD is another sci-fi soundscape with massive walls of sound and expansive passages of dark minimalism. Danny weaves a tale of space exploration and the unknown dangers therein. Deep listeners will take the journey as well, carried by the rhythm. The rhythm is either overt (sequenced) or self-generated (minimal). It is always there. A deep synth drone provides continuity for the thematic integrity as listeners explore the mystic worlds of abduction. The dark minimalism forebodes mystery and, perhaps, danger lurking in the shadows. There is no crescendo, ergo, no dйnouement. The mystery and danger never materialize. They are present but they do not take over. Danny has created another space music essential. This is an early in 2001’s top ten! [Jim Brenholts]
[mp3]
Syndromeda -- "A Day in the Fields" -- CD -- €12
2005 self-released, SinSyn200501
Berlin School. This album comes close on the heals of 'Metaphysical Experiences' but even though it is quite recognizable as Syndromeda the realization of the project came together in a very different manner. Danny Budts, the man who is Syndromeda, was asked if his music could be used as part of an artist exhibition celebrating the 850th anniversary of Ekeren, the village in Belgium where he lives. He composed a completely fresh series of works, the music you have here, inspired by a nature reserve in the village where the exhibition was to be mainly based. [DL]
Syndromeda -- "In Touch with the Stars" -- CD -- €12
2001 Neu Harmony, NH022 / Groove Unlimited, GR-064
Berlin School. This release offers 71 minutes recorded live at the Jodrell Bank Planetarium in England on May 5, 2001. Here, Budts produces all new material that celebrates a meeting ground for earth and sky, where humanity benefits from its own questioning nature... Budts delivers a profusion of fervor in his music, packing earnest energy into sinuous tuneage with every compounding moment. The electronics are irrepressible, and the enormous-sounding percussion only increases the intensity. You'd think all this would drain the listener, leaving an exhausted brain between the ears... but not so. The experience has quite the opposite effect: pumping energy and a near-cosmic awareness into the psyche, expanding consciousness and revitalizing the biological vessel that makes us human. There are realms where earth and the cosmos meet, and you'll hear Syndromeda's compositions playing there. [Matt Howarth, Sonic Curiosity]
[mp3]
Syndromeda -- "Metaphysical Experiences" -- CD -- €12
2005 Neu Harmony, NH035
Brilliant synths and sequencing in this high charged outing by Syndromeda. [label info]
[mp3]
T.A.G.C. -- "Audiophile" -- CD -- €10
Side Effects, dfx 22
"Audiophile" comprises four 12" singles from 1985's 'Ha/Zulu', with a considerable and very discernible input from Kirk and Mallinder of Cabaret Voltaie, through to the seminal 'Broadcast Test' of 1990, a track that could easily have found a home on Clock Dva's "Buried Dreams". The material on "Audiophile" chops and changes: 'Ha/Zulu' is electronic funk, 'Broadcast Test' is deep psycho-Electro. It's difficult to describe the releases between these two singles. 'Shgl', 'New Upheaval', 'Morpheus Baby', 'F.E.M.' from 1986 and 'Big Sex I and II' from 1987. The electronic rhythms are there, but so are strange saxophones and Adi's stretched vocals. 'SunSet Eyes Through Water' and 'The Ocean' are almost natural seascapes, and set standards for today's ambient artists. [Matthew F. Riley]
T.A.G.C. -- "Burning Water" -- CD -- €10
1994 Side Effects, dfx 17
This compact disc represents a definite step away from the regular, synthesized beat sound of The Anti-Group. Written as a soundtrack to a film of the same name, Burning Water is a two piece, hour long Ambient work. The sound is very mellow and down to earth, creating a lush, full soundscape that relaxes. With bizarre sound bites mixed into the long playing Ambient fields, on has no trouble listening to the entire album in one sitting. The second half of the disc has a more of a bizarre edge to it. It seems creepier and slightly more evil than the first half. The second half also has a faster rhythm to it and is more to the direct point of what the music is trying to convey. Not nearly as creepy as it could be, but still a nice work. [Cipher]
T.A.G.C. -- "Digitaria" -- CD -- €10
1987/1994 Side Effects, dfx 25
The pinnacle and most enduring of the TAGC recordings which was originally released in 1987. Digitaria remains closest in spirit to early Clock DVA, evoking images of urban chaos with more exotic locales other than the First World Metropolis. Archived by combining African and Middle Eastern percussion rhythms with sax and other reed instruments, and then addeding eerie synth wails. The paranoiac assemblage entices at the outset, but ultimately forces the forehead to wrinkle and the eyebrow to lower into thoughts of the apocalypse. [Rob Forman]
Tate, Darren & Bradley, Paul -- "Sometime Today" -- CD -- €10
2004 Plinkity Plonk Records, PLONK 19, (ltd. 500)
Sometime today, is a collaboration between Darren Tate and Paul Bradley. In his own unique and intimate way, Darren recorded the basic tracks at his home in York. Including guitar, keyboard and various other techniques, these recordings were passed onto Paul who took them with him, along with a laptop, on a recent visit to Turkey. These original tracks were supplemented with various field recordings taken around the town of Fethiye and the piece assembled during this three-week visit. Voyeuristic, evocative, abstract and delicate, you are invited to spend some time in their sonic world... Darren Tate made his name in the group Ora, a floating collective that included Colin Potter, Andrew Chalk and Jonathan Coleclough. More recently he is heard as one half of Monos with Colin Potter and on a growing collection of limited solo release CDRs on his own Fungal Records... Paul Bradley started out with his first commercial release on ICR and this friendship and partnership has continued over two collaborative CDs with Colin Potter. He has released several solo discs on his own Twenty Hertz label and recently appeared on the Monos release "Landscapes", which then led to the "Sometime Today" collaboration. [press-release]
[mp3]
Teatro Satanico / Muzakiller -- "s/t" -- CD -- €14
2006 Sottomondo Edizioni, SM 001, (ltd. 666)
Finally here we go with the first "Teatro Satanico" digital album! A full-length CD album, a diabolic toos mpeg-video, a 12 pages booklet with spooky full-colour illustrations! The noise-music of Teatro Satanico is a true “Satanic Mess”! About 45 minutes of rough, strange and weird electronic noise, blended and messed up with Italian language and Veneto dialect devilish lyrics, by this in-famous Italian project. This enhanced CD contains also an mpeg format video clip version of a T.S. “PICCINA” (a.k.a. “Marta”), rendered by Muzakiller, a collective of anarch-antinomian artists devoted to perverted underground art. These visual terrorists are the authors of all the illustrations and are responsible of the radical re-mixes of “Uomo, donna, dio” and “Comandante Bruno”, previously released on very limited hard-to-find vinyl editions. For those into italian language: the booklet contains an inedited tale by Alberto Maria Kundalini (the Tearo Satanico's voice) explaining Satanic philosophy! [press-release]
Test Dept. -- "Pax Britannica (An Oratorio In Five Movements)" -- CD -- €10
1990/1996 Invisible, INV 062 CD
Test Dept were an industrial music band formed in New Cross, London. Formed in 1981, they are hailed by many musicians as one of the most influential early industrial music acts. Their approach was marked out by a strong commitment to radical politics. Their discography spans a wide variety of influences and styles, including a collaboration with the South Wales Striking Miners Choir in support of the Miners' Strike of 1984. They were particularly notable for complex and powerful percussion, as well as high-energy live performances. Like the German band Einsturzende Neubauten, with whom they are often compared, Test Dept used unconventional instruments such as scrap metal and industrial machinery as sound sources; however, Test Dept's use of these objects was far more rhythmic than was Neubauten's, and was often accompanied by film and slide shows. The band played concerts in a number of unusual site-specific locations, such as Waterloo, Cannon Street station, Stirling Castle and the defunct St Rollox Railway Works in Glasgow. In later years the band's music became less industrial and took on many of the properties of techno... [Wikipedia]
Thighpaulsandra -- "Chamber Music" -- CD -- €11
2005 Lumberton Trading Company, LUMB002
When asked to describe Thighpaulsandra's work to somebody recently, it was difficult to find the rightwords to serve any justice. Perhaps the best thing to therefore do is simply respond by illustrating this highly accomplished and visionary musician has been known for his assistance with groups and artists as diverse as Coil, Spiritualized and Julian Cope as much as his own albums during recent enough memory. The album he has recorded for LTCo, 'Chamber Music', certainly compounds matters, too. Combining musiqueconcrete, quasi-dimensional electronics, ravaged hums, atmospheric tones and allmanner of different instruments nodding into focus, it's his most cohesive work todate. To simply declare it the result of an active imagination would still fall far short of giving it enough credit. Active imaginations have, after all, been known to deliver much less than a solitary Thighpaulsandra track. [label info]
Thompson, Robert Scott -- "At the Still Point of the Turning World" -- CD -- €12
2005 Hypnos, hyp2547
Robert Scott Thompson is one of the mainstays and legends of ambient music. He has created music in a variety of styles but his atmospheric ambient efforts are his best. At The Stillpoint of a Turning World is his first release on the Hypnos label... This is an awesome CD! While it might be Robert’s best music ever, it is certainly among his top five or six. It is also one of the top Hypnos releases ever. Robert combines organic textures and metallic timbres with gentle drones and deep atmospheres. There are just enough gray washes to keep the disc somber but not dark. It plays as a long-form soundscape with 12 movements. The gentle drones provide the continuity. There is a certain progression here as well. Robert has always been on the cutting edge and he combines spiritual approaches to his craft. That approach gives his compositions and this set special appeal. This is a great CD and a wonderful start to a new year of more great sounds! [Jim Brenholts]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
THU20 -- "Live In Groningen" -- CD -- €10
2002 Stichting Mixer, mxcd2
Dutch electro-acoustic ensemble THU20 is the co-operation between Roel Meelkop, Peter Duimelinks, Sjac van Bussel and Ios Smolders. The strength varies, their releases are limited and live shows rare. Not a steady thing this THU to say the least.. Despite all of this, all four have firm ideas about music and performances. THU has a unique sound, established through numerous experiments in recording and several collaborations (they've worked on hearplays, spoken word projects, highly conceptual music-making and so on), but still is not a defined thing... and that's good. The THU20 philosophy is one which fits perfectly with our own and obviously Mixer is very proud to release this cd.... "Live in Groningen" is an edited version of a performance they did during the CASA ELECTRONICA festival high up north in the Netherlands. The hearplay-like character of their set/ music is very much imaginative and holds a lot of anekdotal, but still fairly abstract elements. The sound of THU20 is a multi-layered object, compiled of numerous sonic happenings, going through the complete range of audible sound and certainly not in a lineair way. From highly digital to dusty acoustics, from pleasantly calm to disturbingly hectic. It is exactly this tension and variation which keeps you tuned and fascinated. The way basic elements like repetition, tonal differences and time-elapse are used is truly original and surprising. Things move around completely free, accessible for one's own thoughts and interpetation, adding to the constantly changing texture. THU20 dashes around sound, though all is embedded in a very gentle stream of subtle tones and little sound-events, which makes this work perfectly suitable for extended and intense listening... THU20 has released previously on Staalplaat, Flenix and Midas Music. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3]
Tollefson, David -- "New Eyes on the Universe" -- CD -- €12
1998 Hypnos, hyp1805
Recorded in 1997, this CD features 61 minutes of treated guitars, processed with such extremism that their original nature is quite oblique. This ambient music takes a distinctly philosophical look at our physical continuum. The ambience here is a shade grittier, with a seething intensity that often supersedes the tranquillity... [Matt Howarth]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Tonal Y Nagual -- "The Hidden Oasis" -- CD -- €13
2008 Thonar Records, TR.02
Second album by Bavarian folk band Tonal Y Nagual feature 17 more melodious and sombre songs mixed with some unexpected turns and twists. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Traum'er Leben -- "Ursprung" -- CD -- €13
2007 Lower Saxony, LS0701, (ltd. 480)
The first professional pressed cd from this great folk band, know from their Split cd with Seelenthron and Thrinitos! It is limited to 480 copies. You will get beautiful folk songs in best tradition! A must for fans and collectors. [Steinklang info]
Trinithos -- "333" -- CD -- €13
2008 Heimatfolk, HF 03
After several ultra-limited CDR-releases, with "333" finally comes the debut-CD album of the German NeoFolk band TRINITHOS. The band was founded in the early millennium and in the past years they played several concerts together with their friends SEELENTHRON and TRAUM'ER LEBEN. Their music is best to describe as dreamy NeoFolk with a slight DarkPop touch, with orchestral parts, martial drums and even some apocalyptically dark experimental passages. On "333" the band plays a large variety of acoustic instruments, like several different guitars, bass, violins, flutes, drums, didgeridoo,... as well as a few beautiful electronic arrangements. The vocals are polyphonic performances of German lyrics by male and female voices and deal about mythologic themes, natur romanticism and theories of cognition. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Tsunoda, Toshiya -- "Kapotte Muziek by..." -- mCD -- €10
2004 Korm Plastics, KP 3014
This is in many ways a break with tradition. Normally Toshiya Tsunoda writes detailed descriptions of what he does per piece, but in this case it is just said he reworks an old cassette by Kapotte Muziek, called '4 stukken'. This is the second break: up until now musicians involved in this series used live recordings, but Tsunoda is the first to use a studio recording by Kapotte Muziek. Like the cassette there are four parts, corresponding with the original release and they are reworked in the best Tsunoda tradition, involving field recordings and strange and unusual on-site recordings... The sound work of Japanese artist Toshiya Tsunoda represents a radical rethinking of the concept of field recordings. Rather than being documental or naturalistic, his pieces appear as unique music compositions concerned with the relation between space and cognition, rendering the vibration of objects audible, revealing the hidden beauty in each sonic detail. With the meticulously scientific approach of a cataloguist, Tsunoda captures the depth of the landscape, the vital breathing of things. [label info]
[mp3]
Ubiystvo Narkomany -- "s/t" -- CD-R -- €8
self-released
This untitled release contains 11 untitled tracks on a CDR with a piece of grey scotch tape which looks like a tape for pipes, refrigerators and so on. The CDR lies inside of a gatefold, or more likely a piece of cardboard box with a picture from comics attached. No information is present. The material on the CD is 100% in vein of YAOP label. Raw dictaphone recordings of various noises which one can hear in a building car-selling salon: electrogenerator, machines, perforator drills, concrete mixers, car signaling, emery paper, bricks and workers' talks. The tracks are very varied in length: from a dozen of seconds to 11 minutes. In general this sounds as a unified canvas. [Blowtorcher]
Ubiystvo Narkomany -- "Some Violence and March Cats" -- CD-R -- €8
self-released
Raw Lo-End Old School Industrial/Noise. Somewhere wetween early Anti-Verstand and noise works of The Gerogerigegege. The abundance of urban field recordings. Totally punkish :) Handmade package of colour paper and inserts of toilet paper. [YAOP description]
Ultra Milkmaids -- "Pretty Day" -- mCD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR38, (ltd. 500)
A small collection of new Ultra Milkmaids tracks and remixes both by them on other bands' tracks and by other bands on their tracks. A pretty nice disk for the fans.
[mp3]
Ultra Milkmaids / Telepherique / Inox Kapell -- "Nan Tikum Remixes" -- CD -- €11
2002 Ignis, DI 012
Under The Dome -- "Bellerophon" -- CD -- €12
2002 Neu Harmony, NH029
Deep analogue sounds abound on the 2nd UTD CD. Even though atmospheric it literally fizzes with pent-up energy. And what sequences! Swirling atmospherics dominate at times, while many passsages are melodically beautiful and rather euphoric. The mix of melody lines, sequencer swells, electric guitars, & shifting tempos with sci fi type effects blend as if Under the Dome are literally able to control thunder, putting devastating power into every note, shifting it this way and that. There isn't one meandering moment on the album. Each lead is exquisitely constructed, scorching, menacing or even occasionally tender. It's as if the Gods themselves are hurtling bolts of pure energy. Inevitably the CD finishes with a massive explosion as the album goes super nova. It contains those trademark UTD style sequences as found on their first but it also shows a great deal of maturity. [Lloyd Barde]
[mp3]
Under The Dome -- "Wot No Colin?" -- CD -- €12
2003 Neu Harmony, NH031
British Berlin School band Under the Dome released in September 2003 their new album, Wo Not Colin. The live album combines performances from two concerts, and all the music has been played completely live, without any pre-recorded backing. In addition to tracks from two studio albums, there are also two previously unreleased songs on the CD. [Glenn Folkvord]
[mp3]
Van Richter, Max -- "Resurrection" -- CD -- €12
2002 Neu Harmony, NH026
Max Van Richter is a pseudonym for Paul Lawler. Van Richter was claimed to be a member of the band Arcane, which is Lawlers own project. According to the story, Van Richter was a victim of a mysterious spontaneous human combustion in his home, his charred remains found holding a badly damaged demo tape... "The tuneage on "Resurrection" is dark and ominous, an electronic soundtrack for some tortured nightmare trapped in an abandoned haunted house. Efforts have been made to capture the vibrant flair of the formative stages of the classic Berlin School sound, in numerous instances employing sounds that were in popular use during that electronic heyday, but the results often tend to be slicker than old recordings, employing technologies and sentiments that are distinctly modern." [Matt Howarth] Long lost and much anticipated album from the Arcane founder member. Sensational melodics and sequencing akin to 80's TD at their peak, with a symphonic twist!! [label info]
[mp3]
Velehentor -- "Zona Otchuzhdeniya (Zone of Alienation)" -- CD-R -- €7
2008 Abgurd, AB-53, (ltd. 100)
The album is tributed to the Russian «ghost-towns» Kadykchan, Kursha-2 and Halmer-U. Kadykchan («Death Valley» in Evenk) is a miners urban village in Susuman district of Magadan region, which was left by the inhabitants after the mine detonation in 1996. Nowadays only a few native people live in this dead town without central heating and water and power supply in half-destroyed apartments. Kursha-2 was build shortly after the Russian Revolution as a workers village for mastering vast forests of the Central Meshera. In the year 1936, during hot and windy summer, 1200 humans were burnt out alive because of the forest fire that surrounded Kursha and outskirts. Halmer-U («Death Valley» in Nenets) is situated in the area that was used by natives as a burial place for centuries. In the end of 20th century it became another «not wanted» miners town. People were evicted to Vorkuta city by riot squads. Three tracks of disturbing static oppression. All-dead Drone Ambient and sizzling Drone Noise dressing you alive. VELEHENTOR is well-known for its skill in creating the proper atmosphere using only facts, and here it is reproducted as by a direct witness. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3]
Viridian Sun -- "Perihelion" -- CD -- €12
1999 Hypnos, hyp1910
Sonic adventurers Viridian Sun follow up their daring, acclaimed debut, Solar Noise. Perihelion goes in a slightly new sonic direction, but retains the intuitive, improvisational approach. The focus remains on creating highly visual and evocative soundscapes, an ever-evolving construction of loops and drifting background textures, both hypnotic and beautiful. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Viridian Sun -- "Solar Noise" -- CD -- €12
1997 Hypnos, hyp1703
A dark ambient album with immediate appeal to fans of Lightwave, Meridien Dream, and the recent works of Robert Rich.... While the keyboard textures, with dark swirly synths, sample loops and sequences and a wide variety of instrument tones and noises set the scene, it is the processed guitar, abstract plucking sounds and atonal melodies that provide the variety and continual changes. Deep space and foreboding passages are linked with an excellent flow, and we expect more fine releases from this Portland, Oregon- based label. [Backroads Music description]
Von Hausswolff, Carl Michael -- "Leech" -- CD -- €12
2006 Raster-Noton, R-N 67
With his works the Swedish artist Carl Michael Von Hausswolff takes interest in revealing and using accoustic, visual, social and cultural phenomena. For the CD "Leech" he acts as a parasite on works by Olafur Eliasson, Carsten Holler, Tommi Gronlund / Petteri Nisunen and Richard James. In the three first pieces he sucked energy/sound out from the electric functions of those works; sounds that normally can not be heard. On James' work he bruises the skin surface as leeches usually do before they penetrate the body. This is a new way of sampling; a reading of the un-readable in certain types of art works. It might be a "l'art pour l'art"-production but this was unavoidable as this "search for the real" continued. [label info]
Wappenbund -- "Schlacht - The Final Chapter / Blood & Fire" -- CD-R -- €16
2007 Greyland
CDR in gold-colored tin box, combining the first tape and mini CD together for this remastered re-release, and containing a 3-page booklet with a wax seal.
Watermann, John -- "1935 - 2002" -- CD -- €13
2008 Waystyx, WR36, (ltd. 500)
A collection of compilation tracks from John Watermann and his projects Spinal Machine and Total Disease.
[mp3]
Weihan -- "Symphonies of Divination" -- CD -- €13
2007 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 103, (ltd. 540)
“Symphonies of Divination” is the sophomore album of this very promising project from the medieval lands bordering the cold North Sea, Flanders (North-Belgium). Dramatically straying from the neo-folk path of their debut album “Galder”, “Symphonies of Divination” offers dark and bombastic compositions with clear references to Slavonic, German and Scandinavian classical music. Heavy percussion, assiduous spiccato string sections, dramatic horn accents and haunting choirs form the backbone of this album. The cold and eerie narrative vocals enhance the grim atmosphere of the music even further. The lyrics, mainly in English but with hints of Dutch, Old-Norse and Swedish, are devoted to Indo-Germanic religion, myth and legend, the Nietzschean spirit and relentlessly attest to the grotesque decline of the modern world. The album is released as a limited edition digipack of 540 copies; each album thus representing a gate to the Hall of the Slain, Valhalla. The concept as a whole is a key to higher cosmological understanding; let the 432.000th year of Kali Yuga begin with “Symphonies of Divination”! The cycle continues as a new world arises out of the shed blood of the old… Ellegant digipack plus large booklet. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
wEirD -- "A Different Kind of Normal" -- CD -- €12
1999 Neu Harmony, NH011
The participants in this project are Jens Peschke and Andy Bloyce from Kubusschnitt. The first thing you hear on this album is a rumbling sequence which leaves you in no doubt that the territory to be explored is decidedly retro. There are Tangerine Dream references but they are mixed in equal part with Klaus Schulze and Ashra influences... This is a truly incredible CD mixing many different elements of the “golden era” of Electronic Music. Sequences are used for much of the time but they are never allowed to just run, they come and go and are constantly shape shifting. The guitar at times provides the lead line but just as importantly it adds an extra dimension to the overall sound in just the right places. The music ranges from upbeat and optimistic to dark and hellish particularly on the second half of the title track. Recommended without hesitation. [label info]
[mp3]
Werkraum -- "Early Love Music" -- CD -- €13
2008 Ahnstern, Ahnstern23
14 progressive & traditional, psychedelic & medieval folk songs and chants of Early Love. 14 dreamy memories of the merry blue days from Early Times. Together with friends of the groups CHANGES, LADY MORPHIA and STURMPERCHT. "Early Love Music" is not just a Folk album. "Early Love Music" is a quantum leap for the new Folk generation of the third millennium and an enhanced assortment of early and new Folk-styles. Progressive- and Psychedelic Folksongs mix up and alternate with British and German traditionals in the vein of early Donovan (HMS), Spirogyra, Shirley Collins, Mellow Candle, Ougenweide,... just to name a few. Some songs even have a songwriter-like character, as if they were played somewhen in the mid 60ies in a dark Britanny forest by a suicidal Jackson C.Frank or Shawn Phillips. The complex arrangements and large variety of instruments even remind to The Incredible String Band and some early Acid-Folk bands. As a dot on the i, "Early Love Music" brings 2 coverversions of Donovan's ingenious fairytale "Jabberwocky" and Steeleye Span's traditional-hit "The Blacksmith". With "Song for Erik" Nicholas and Axel have created the sadest song ever sung, filling every father's eyes with a lake of tears. "Early Love Music" comes in a highest-quality 6-side-digipack with 16-page lyric-booklet. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Werkraum -- "Unsere Feuer Brennen!" -- CD -- €16
2004 Cold Spring Records, CSR49CD, (ltd. 1000)
Debut album from a band who are creating excitement across the whole scene, and they have only appeared on a handful of extremely rare compilations, (including the impossible to find collaboration with VON THRONSTAHL and BLEIBURG). A genius mixture of martial industrial, neo-folk, ambience and neo-classical! Aided by LADY MORPHIA (UK) and HARVEST RAIN (USA), the immaculate album is packaged in a gold and silver foldout wallet. [label info]
[mp3]
Williams, David E. -- "Hope Springs a Turtle" -- CD -- €11
2003 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 063
Known among others for his collaborations with Rozz Williams (see the album "Accept the Gift of Sin") and Blood Axis, this great US song-writer delivers after a long silence again a unique combination of best & lovely apocaliptic-folk & pop tunes! Wonderfull songs to be discovered, simply great! "The unbearably important lightness of being Earnest"... [label info]
Z'EV -- "Forwaard" -- CD -- €10
2007 Korm Plastics, KP 3029, (ltd. 300)
Since almost forty years Z'EV belongs to the absolute fore front of experimental music. Playing percussive music he gained a lot of attention, but in more recent years he returned to working with electronic tape manipulation. One aspect is working with other people, such as Francisco Lopez or Kasper Toeplitz. On 'Forwaard' he uses field recordings made by Frans de Waard (hence the title), which are 'recoded' by Z'EV into a forty minute, densely layered pattern of musique concrete. Many of the water like sounds disappear in the 'recoded' version and makes a particular strong work. The cover contains field photography Frans de Waard and was designed by Meeuw Muzak. It comes in the 15x15 cm cover that Korm Plastics has used before. [press-release]
[mp3]
Z'EV -- "Ghost Stories" -- CD -- €10
1998 Soleilmoon Recordings, SOL 64 CD
Previously unreleased material, recorded in 1990 in Amsterdam. Best document of his "wild style". [label info]
[mp3]
Z'EV -- "Opus 3.1" -- CD -- €10
1990 Soleilmoon Recordings, SOL 8 CD
Remastered edition of Opus 3, first released by Staalplaat in 1990, recorded in De Duif, a church in Amsterdam. [label info]
[mp3]
Z'EV -- "Outwaard" -- CD -- €10
2008 Korm Plastics, KP 3031, (ltd. 300)
For close to forty years Z'EV has been at the absolute fore front of new musics. Playing his unique brand of percussive music he gained a lot of attention, but in more recent years he returned to working with electro-acoustic manipulations. Since 2003 he has also begun a wide ranging series of collaborations, working with Francisco Lopez, Stephen O'Malley, David Jackman/Organum and Oren Ambarchi among others. One such ongoing collaboration is with Frans de Waard, with whom he released 'Forwaard' in April 2007 and 'Outwaard' is the next installment. Whereas the sound sources used on 'Forwaard' where of a varying nature, on 'Outwaard' they were all made at a petting zoo in Kleve, Germany. These recordings which are 'recoded' by Z'EV into a forty minute, densely layered pattern of musique concrete. Many of the animal call like sounds disappear in the 'recoded' version and makes a particular strong work, but occasionally one returns and leaves a no less than haunting listening experience. The cover contains field photography Frans de Waard and was designed by Meeuw Muzak. It comes in the 15x15 cm cover that Korm Plastics has used before. [press-release]
[mp3]
:zoviet*france: -- "Digilogue" -- CD -- €12
1998 Soleilmoon Recordings, SOL 62 CD
“Digilogue”, originally issued in 1996 by Soleilmoon as a limited edition vinyl album, is presented for the first time on compact disc. The music recorded for “Digilogue” examines the subtle and shifting nuances that contrast the Digital and Analog worlds. :zoviet*france: have always professed their fascination with the failings of the technology by which music is produced, recorded, mass-produced and played back, and have frequently adapted the faults that their own machines develop into means of reshaping sound - the basic material with which they work: “All audio equipment distorts sound to some degree and, eventually through mechanical and electrical failure, fucks it up. Since indeterminacy as a compositional parameter has been a constant in our work, this often produces what we regard as interesting new developments. “Digilogue” was recorded using a mixture of failing analogue equipment and high-end digital equipment, and monitored in our studio exclusively on damaged hi-fi speakers. Sound can be as dirty and as clumsy as anything else we perceive with our senses. This is just as true of sound generated in the digital domain, much as we would all like to believe the claims of near-perfection made by audio equipment manufacturers.” Three tracks from original recording sessions are presented for the first time on this compact disc. They were omitted from the original release because there wasn’t space for them... [label info]
[mp3]
V/A -- "Angst" -- 2 CD -- €15
2004 Spectre, S20
Angst is an achievement... in this case it is... Spectre's 'big boss' summoned his demons to work towards a common goal: a sonic exploration of and into angst. All Spectre projects have gathered here to contribute their audio sculptures, and they do not celebrate this fest alone. They're given heart by other labels' dearest and a few promising newcomers. The result: a monolith of diverse industrial atmospheres united in darkness and anxiety. Once you have had a look at the tracklist, a look at the artwork, and above all a listen to the all-exclusive pearls contained on this two-and-a-half-hour double cd compilation, you'll realize you got hooked... Grabbed by angst and enjoying it. [press-release] Artists: Mimetic Fake, Hypnoskull, OKK-ULTh, Empusae, Kraken, PAL, 5F_55, Iszoloscope, This Morn' Omina, Flint Glass, Def, Leiche Rustikal, Feindbild.Geraeuschdichte, Hysteresis, Hybryds, Templegarden's, m2, Codetripper, Ah Cama-Sotz, Bad Sector, Salt, Frames A Second, MS Gentur, Stupor, Project Arctic, The [Law-Rah] Collective.
V/A -- "Balanced" -- CD -- €10
2008 Circlesandlines Recordings, candl02, (ltd. 300)
Second release of Russian label run by Places project and dedicated to the edition of calm and contemplative music. Featuring artists: Chris Tenz, Kshatriy, Cyclofillydea, Places, Jukeen, Arexx, Lunar Abyss Deus Organum vs. Kadegu, I/Dex, Harmash, Alexander Daf. General style direction: ambient / drone / idm.
[mp3]
V/A -- "Hymni Piscium" -- CD-R -- €8
Art of Anticreation, (ltd. 100)
A bootlegged compilation of hymns to a crucified fish for regular listening. Slimbox, black glossy cover, a sticker with a crucified fish. [YAOP description]
V/A -- "Kälte Container" -- CD -- €13
2001 Radio Luxor, RL 23401
An assortment of remixes and covers of Kirlian Camera songs. Cover versions from Shining Vril, Naevus, Collection D'Arnell-Andrea and remixes from Wumpscut, 6 COMM and Allerseelen and many more. This is the regular cd edition.
V/A -- "Maschinenfest 2007" -- 2 CD -- €15
2007 Pflichtkauf, pflicht 033
Festival edition in cardboard sleeve which was given to visitors of the Maschinenfest 2007 at Kufa, Krefeld who own a weekend ticket. Skincage, Dazzling Malicious, Detune X, Scrap.edx, Greyhound, This Morn Omina, Twinkle, Catholic Boys In Heavy Leather, Synapscape, Ahnst Anders, Detritus, Keef Baker, 100 Blumen, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, YnY, Config Sys, 5F-X, Sonar, Eva|3, Spherical Disrupted, DJ Hidden, Ab Ovo, S.K.E.T., Ambassador 21, Drumcorps, Vromb, Ah Cama-Sotz.
V/A -- "Rush for Black Celebration: Russian Industrial Depeche Mode Tribute" -- CD -- €9
2008 KultFront, KF-IX, (ltd. 500)
Russian Industrial Depeche Mode Tribute is the result of 3 years of work made by Russian industrial musicians who wanted to express their attitude to the famous band in an unusual way. As a rule, DM tributes (and there are over 30 of them for today) present collections of carefully replayed DM songs, and this is done mostly for promoting those who decided to "replay the original" and make it "same way as bafore". Rush for Black Celebration is completely different in this sense. First of all, in it's mood. This disc almost completely lacks for serene naivety of 80-ies, oftenly associated with DM. On the contrary, here one can feel the aspiration for the dark corners of subconsciousness, where one can accidentally (or intentionally) get moving around the CD tracks. Secondly, this tribute is the only dedication to the legendary pop-band where the covers are not only driven by the feeling of recognition or love, but also by the critical revisiting their insane popularity, and even by the feeling of hatred to what they were doing. The result is 17 compositions almost fitting the 80-min limit of the CD. [press-release] Featuring: Das Reut, Light Collapse, Тbilisi-89, Interior Disposition, Sal Solaris, Alexei Borisov, М-28, Stpocold, Ganzer, Hladna, Instant Movie Combinations, Maroon, Kryptogen Rundfunk, Tsaraas, Noises of Russia, Kaj?
[mp3 / ifolder]
V/A -- "Steinklang Industries IV" -- CD -- €7
2007 Steinklang Industries
Part 4 of the label compilation series - half harsh industrial and half folk music. 80 min. / 20 tracks: Indigo Larvae, Flutwacht, Teatro Satanico, KK Null, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Screloma, Dissecting Table, Radio Murmansk, A Minority Of One, Jahrtal, The Joy Of Nature, Defile Des Ames, Scivias, Svarrogh, Seelenthron, Traum'er Leben, Trinithos, Falkenstein, Jannerwein, A Challenge Of Honour.
Cheerleader69 -- "Godriders in the Sky" -- LP -- €10
2006 Steelwork Machine, SMR05, (ltd. 500)
[...] Cheerleader 69 offer up an eclectic and intriguing mixture of rhythmic electronica, moody dark ambient and bombastic martial industrial, in a genre-defying melange which is quite difficult to review, as it refuses to stay in one style long enough to get a fix on it. However, enjoying listening to it isn’t nearly so challenging, as from the sample-strewn overture of ‘Your Book Is Full Of Killings’ to the compulsive percussions and crunchy industrial drones of ‘La Derniere Charge De La Morve d’Or’ and jazzy trumpet of ‘Crystal Sierra’, the music of Cheerleader 69’s remains consistently vivid and interesting. The title track ‘Godriders (In The Sky)’ is the highlight of the album, with crushing tribal drums, looped choral vocals, vocal samples and a fat horn section combining into a Bacchanalian frenzy reminiscent of C.O.T.A., Foetus or Pigface. [...] [Judass Kiss]
[mp3]
K2 -- "Iron Kulture" -- 7" -- €9
1996 Self Abuse Records, SAR-15
One of the god-fathers of Japanoise. Not very usual instruments for K2 were used here: scrap iron, voice, polishing machine, modulator, tape recorder on metal objects. Green vinyl, embossed cover. [YAOP description]
PPF / ICK -- "Collectivistes / Individualistes" -- LP -- €10
2006 Steelwork Machine, SMR04, (ltd. 500)
PPF and ICK are true Industrial / Power noise fiends who have some rather tasty releases out there if you can find them. [...] Here PPF have 2 tracks, ICK have 4 tracks and the remaining 4 tracks are collaborations between both. [...] Here are the fundamental principles of Industrial music put to an invigorating and quite quintessential ecstatic set of tracks that uses old analogue equipment and electronic effects to put their music across. Sounding like the bastard offspring of Throbbing Gristle and SPK the simplified beats and distorted vocals over the simplified in the best possible way electronic patterns are a joy to listen to. No histrionics or over abundance of overblown debris, just an unassuming guilty pleasure to immerse oneself in. Fuck originality. Overrated at the best of times. A blast from the past updated for the now. And French to boot. Who would ever have believed it. I've read a fairly negative review of this release elsewhere and cannot believe he listened to the same record that I'm thoroughly besotted with. Another critical cunt who deserves shooting. Fuck his words. Read mine and believe. For I would never lie to any of you. This release is worth buying a record player for alone. [...] [Judass Kiss]
[mp3]
Westwind -- "Tourmente I" -- 2 LP -- €14
2004 Steelwork Machine, SMR03, (ltd. 500)
It’s a conceptual album consecrated to the destruction of Brest (France) during summer ’44 by both German and American forces. The idea of destruction perfectly fits to the global, nihilistic atmosphere of Westwind. The tracks remained untitled, but perfectly represent a state of destruction, death and desolation! We here get 4 cuts starting with long intros, which slowly evolves into ambient deadscapes driven by furious rhythms. Some pieces are a little bit too long in their intro, but it always ends in a real kind of apotheosis! [...] This is an interesting concept made in France! [...] [SideLine]
Hermit / Gum Tea With Hee Haw -- "s/t" -- MC -- €4
Magnitophone Records
The recording of a concert in Vladimir, Russia, 2002. Canadian-French noise project with a stinker violin and crackles of overloaded electronics versus legendary St. Petersburg's noisegroup (t.net) - side A. Side B is a collaborational radio-outrage on FM-station in Orel, Russia. Dense ambient pulsations by Hermit and classical japanese full-on on toys, musical hammers, clarinet, cars and toy wheels by Gum Tea With Hee Haw. [press-release]
Lunatic Hot Dump -- "Tjebja Zovut Katja" -- MC -- €4
Magnitophone Records
Loud homemade noise. Lit-hop in vein of Pyotr Mamonov, leap gangsta, cover-version of Kino song, cuts from the radio discussions "is noise good or bad?" with Rastvor 646 and Talonov Net, song "Do you buy the klitor". Instruments: metal and plastic tanks, metal balls and baloons, chinese musical toys, dictaphone, megaphone, telephone, magnitophone, bass-guitar, a drum, etc. [press-release]
MH LMTH -- "Noise for Qliphotic Meditation" -- MC -- €4
Res Adversae Productions, RSA 006, (ltd. 93)
Black Ritual Death Industrial. Very nice packaging. [YAOP description]
Majdanek Waltz -- T-shirt -- €12
2008 KultFront
Black T-shirt with white printing. Sizes L, XL, XXL. Watch the image.
Majdanek Waltz / Sal Solaris -- "Himmel Des Reichs / Der Himmel Über Berlin" -- badge -- €1
2008 KultFront
Badge released along with their split-CD. Watch the image.
Ain Soph -- "Aurora" -- CD -- €13
2003 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 053
Re-edition of the long time sold out Ain Soph "masterpiece", released in 1992 on Cthulhu Records, with one additional rare compilation track "Colpo di Grazia" recorded in the same period. This album is to be considered a pioneers opera of neo-folk cabaret and was influencing many artists after his production back in 1992! A very controversial and politicaly uncorrect album talking about Italy during & after the WW2! Digipack basically in the same form of the original but with some changes. [label info]
Allerseelen -- "Abenteuerliches Herz" -- CD -- €13
Aorta, AORCD07
"Abenteuerliches Herz is a great album. Raw, powerful and complex. It is very exciting to see someone take the neo-folk music genre and completely redefine and broaden its scope. To see an artist infuse this genre with so many diverse musical approaches and infuse it with Mediterranean flavor has been a very unique and enjoyable experience. Allerseelen’s Abenteuerliches Herz truly stands out as an original and innovative release. I highly recommend this album to everyone. The music is very approachable and seductive. Faeries coming from many different music scenes will find both something familiar and something new in this music. All of the songs lyrical content is poetically esoteric and open to interpretation. The music is also good just for the experience. If you love innovative music that is redefining limits and boundaries you have to get Abenteuerliches Herz!" [Malahki Thorn, Heathen Harvest]
Allerseelen -- "Neuschwabenland" -- CD -- €13
Aorta, AORCD05
"It is not only the packaging that possesses the texture of ice. A shimmering world of subterranean glacial caverns. One's consciousness is mesmerised by siren-like strings and metallic chimes, that glisten like frozen stalactites in this palace of ice. Sophisticated upbeat numbers veering toward pop territory in terms of its melody and construction, gelid love-songs. The addition of string and brass sections imbues the whole with a sense of subdued tension which acts as the perfect vehicle for Kadmon's pondering, poetic lyrics. Backdrobs of pulsating bass, sweeping reverberations. Wonderfully expressive violins provide a respite from the cold. As always with Allerseelen, one is left feeling enthused and invigorated by a brilliant listening experience. With concepts and music of this quality, Kadmons looks set to remain at the forefront of cutting-edge sounds for years to come." [Judas Kiss zine]
Allerseelen -- "Stirb und Werde" -- CD -- €13
Aorta, AORCD04
"An Allerseelen CD is an event. A ritual. I have never been disappointed. I have never heard an Allerseelen piece that sounded weak, poorly done, or uncared for. Allerseelen represent a standard of excellence that is almost unheard of in the world today. Stirb und Werde is no exception. It refers to the journey of death and rebirth. The artwork is taken from photographs of the sanctuary Externsteine in Westphalia. The music follows a progression, beginning softly, and almost tentatively, like the first rays of sunlight on the horizon; and, like the sun, a few minutes after this CD has begun to arise, it becomes almost overwhelmingly brilliant. Stirb und Werde is a masterpiece of the Twentieth Century, and a sentinel of the Golden Age that must surely follow this modern world of darkness." [starvox.net]
Allerseelen -- "Venezia" -- CD -- €13
Aorta, AORCD06
Dedicated to Mediterranean culture and music, this album was inspired by the beautiful city of Venice, Italy. The albums music moves between powerful and rhythmic oriented tracks to soundtrack-type grooves, encompassing the decadent, inspired, hypnotic and surreal. Based on R.M.Rilke and inspired by Nietzsche and E.Pound. Lounge and downtempo industrial. [label info]
Älymystö -- "Atomgrad" -- CD -- €9
2006 Onyxia, onyx005
Älymystö is the pulse of electronic phobias, unexpected structures of ambience, downbeat gateways and at times even glimpses of hard-stepping industrial and dark trip hop. The dissonant eerie noise treatments lead the listener towards perilous paths of a picturesque David Lynch movie while the trippy beats and atmospheric soundscapes drill through the auditory meatus like the music of Akira Yamaoka and Rika Muranaka. СAtomgradТ is an internal research program of audio cosmetic desolation filled with sonic synthesis of rhythmic hypnosis and cold sculptured spheres. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Arditi -- "Marching on to Victory" -- CD -- €13
2007 Equilibrium Music, EQM015
The original release of "Marching on to Victory" dates back to 2003, with a small pressing of 1000 copies on the obscure Swedish label Svartvintras. The legacy that one half of the project brought from his work with Puissance was fairly evident, yet the focus on his work as Arditi was not so much beautifuly orchestrated narrations of the apocalypse, but far grimmer depictions of the past centuries world conflicts. Field recordings and blurry speeches were incorporated into Arditi's compositions, adding a rather disturbing tone to the predominant military snare-drums, obscure symphonic arrangements and hypnotic soundscapes. The suffocating combination between martial classical arrangements and somber atmospheres would set Arditi's debut album as one of the bleakest releases on the Militaristic Neo-Classical movement that was starting to flourish at the time. "Marching on to Victory" is now made available again, in a deluxe Digipak release featuring 2 bonus tracks. [press release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Arditi -- "Standards of Triumph" -- CD -- €13
2006 Equilibrium Music, EQM014
Boasting the unique personality of this Swedish combo, "Standards of Triumph" taps further into the darker tones of Militaristic Neo-Classical ambiance that has become the band's trademark, resulting in their strongest effort so far - ever effective in their use of crushing orchestrations and evocative speeches, Arditi hereby drags the listener around muddy trenches, leaving aside overly pompous festive marches or alcohol fueled merry bunker songs which seem to have become the norm as of late, and casting an hypnotizing veil over the turmoil of warfare-inspired Industrial soundscapes. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Ataraxia / Autunna et sa Rose -- "Odos Eis Ouranon - La Via Verso il Cielo" -- 2 CD -- €17
2005 Equilibrium Music, EQM004
A deluxe Digipak double-CD, by two of the leading figures in the Italian Neo-Classical scene, Ataraxia and Autunna et sa Rose. Autunna et sa Rose have used material from their first 3 albums, hereby interpreted on piano and cello, and featuring soprano vocals and poetic recitation. Saverio, the group's mastermind, and his companions bring to life dramatic pieces that push the typically softer tones of Neo-Classical music into a more demanding ground dominated by Contemporary Classical music. Interpretations of compositions by Ataraxia and Tuxedomoon were also part of the concert recorded in Rovigo that evening and included in this release. Borrowing an ancient Wiepking and Co. piano, Ataraxia rearranged a collection of their finest tracks that would fit an entirely acoustic format, revisiting them in a warmer and more intimate form. This selection covers not only tracks from most of their releases, but also titles from the sold-out EPs "Orlando" and "Des Paroles Blanches", as well as two previously unreleased songs and material never before issued on CD. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Bad Sector -- "Ampos" -- CD -- €13
Power And Steel, PAS17
After it's first limited CD release in 1995 this album became a much sought after item and finally the re-release of BAD SECTOR's classical first full time record sees the light of the day now. With AMPOS Massimo Magrini set a standard in deeply emotional dark ambient noise and many of his following releases went in that vein of evocative intensity and monolithic sound. In addition to the remastered eleven tracks of the original version this issue includes two bonustracks recorded with the same set-up from 1995 that closes the circle of this timeless masterpiece. Digipak. [label info]
Bad Sector -- "Plasma" -- CD -- €12
1998 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 011, 2nd edition
If "Ampos" is the "plastic" masterpiece by Bad Sector this is the "surgerical" masterpice by the Italian industrial master! great conceptual work! sound sources: Magnetosphere, Vostok + Salyut + Soyuz original recordings, Pulsar, High Voltage, Neon... all this sounds are building a unique powerful & pulsing sound sculpture, a great mind experience! The cover presents a series of interesting "electricity / energy " photos! Second print with a new full color re-worked cover! [press-release]
Bad Sector / Contagious Orgasm -- "Vacuum Pulse" -- CD -- €12
2000 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 032
"...From a mere description, this could end up sounding like every other drone and ambient noise release you own, but the fact is that nothing can account for the sheer depth and richness of the sounds on offer here. Everything has an almost organic quality to it, the drones sounding so liquid and deep that they take on a life of their own, both separate and a part of their generative technology - an otherworldly symbiosis of life and machine that stems directly from science fiction. It is hard to distinguish the two different artists' efforts from one another, as their approaches to sound and composition are so alike, especially when focussed towards this common theme. It is, then, almost the perfect collaboration, each artists' talents serving to enhance the other's and producing a work that is not far removed from their usual output, but that has that elusive X-factor of genius and serendipity that quickly ranks this as a classic of modern music. Nearly indescribable, highly recommended." [Gavin Lees, Immanence Records]
Bad Sector & Tommaso Lisa -- "Reset / Rebis Periferiche" -- CD + book -- €14
2005 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 075
For this release Massimo Magrini was joined by the Italian cyberzone-writer Tommaso Lisa. So the album was recorded as conceptual reference to Tom's "Italian neuro-poems" collection "Rebis". Short spoken fragments of the texts are treated and inserted in a sonic structure built with minimal, strangely sincopated pseudo-rytmhs and sharp pulsing noises. The effect of those spoken texts is really disqieting, a very severe & obscure release different from all previous Bad Sector albums. In the background, Bad Sector's trademark chilling micro-melodies completes an upsetting, allucinated but crude vision of our "Collapsing Civilization". The CD is packed inside a book cover, the book contains Tom's neo-futuristic & cyber-poetry. [label info]
Circular -- "Shaping the Unknown" -- CD -- €13
2006 Loki Foundation, loki 44
The debut album of Circular defines an opulent style of meditative ambient music and celebrates the pure sound engines of perfect analogue synthesizer music. Johannes Riedel created an elegant and stylish form of drone music to build ellipses in-between sculptures blowing through the triangular center. This aural paintings discover sacred landscapes of drifting loops, analogue synthesizers and the brilliant use of guitars to set up an unearthly visionary wall of sound. The method of Circular's music dispose a special principle where tracks build up slowly and take the period of concentration, of taking shape, followed by overwhelming massive soundworlds from outer states. Sounds are swirling around the cuboid and adhere at the cognition through unique scapes of the swelling and digressing resonance. [press release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Claustrum & Traur Zot -- "Returning to the Past by Silence" -- CD -- €11
2004 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 071
A requiem to the past century, whose peace has been buried under the layers of asphalt, glass and steel, under human indifference and soullessness, under the false values... Conceptual work consisting of six parts of sympho-industrial interlacing with darkwave and some martial touch! High quality live recording by Latvian acts Claustrum and Traur Zot. [press-release]
Cold Fusion -- "Occupatria" -- CD -- €13
2005 Steinklang Industries, SKD 07, (ltd. 1000)
An oppressive atmosphere in a occupied town, in a occupied country. Only illusion of freedom - no freedom. Cold Fusion - Occupatria - a musical journey on the thin line between urge of freedom and lack of its realisation. 45 minutes of beautiful symphonic Martial music, compared to A Challenge Of Honour, Les Joyaux de la Princesse, with a strong touch of early Dead Can Dance and Graeme Revell's soundtracks! [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Cold Fusion -- "Simmetria" -- CD -- €13
2007 War Office Propaganda / Rage In Eden, WOP37
Symmetry perceived as some kind of balance and harmony. Symmetry between surrounding world and its "mirror reflection", which sticks in our minds. Symmetry of left and right side, day and night, birth and death. Symmetry of buildings, objects, bodies. biquitous symmetry. Brand new album of Cold Fusion reflets ist theme - dynamic, marching atmosphere from one side, melancholy and reverie from another. Illusory lack of symmetry or rather its confirmation? 11 tracks, 44.30 minutes comes in nice digipack designed by Michal Karcz. [press-release]
Cyclotimia -- "Celestis: Space Ceremonial Music" -- CD -- €7
2007 Gravitator Records, GRR 017
The new album by CYCLOTIMIA is inspired by the activity of the American aerospace company Space Services Inc. which among other things dispatches human ashes in space. For more than 30 years Space Services Inc. has been a leader company in the sphere of private space missions of scientific and educational character. Company's modules successfully landed on the Moon. And in 1997 happened the first memorial flight in history. Over these years more than 200 families from the whole world made their deceased relatives' dream come true - a dream about space flight. Also many well-known persons choosed to be buried not in the ground but in Space. Among them are the creator of "Star Trek" Gene Roddenberry, the icon of psychedelic culture Timothy Leary, NASA scientist Dr. Eugene Shoemaker, astronaut Gordon Cooper, actor James "Scotty" Doohan. By agreement with Space Services Inc. a copy of "Celestis" CD will be launched in space on board of the rocket with ashes of 179 people from different countries (!!!). The music of CYCLOTIMIA got the status of the official soudtrack for the memorial "Legacy" flight planned for March 2007. Musically "Celestis" fundamentally differs from their previous works. Here you won't find neither harsh rhythms, nor huge amount of voice samples, nor finally the suffocatingly dark despair, the music is more ascetic than before. As explained by the musicians to create real old-school atmosphere on this album they had to use the whole bunch of vintage devices. Among others such "wonders" like several Casio toy-synths from early 80-ies, classics of Soviet analogue technics - synthesizer "Ritm-2" and even Japanese rhythm-box assembled in 1971. The album has been recorded in 2 years and then mastered by well-known specialists in one of the best Russian studios. From the starting theme "Capsula" the music immerses the listener into the world of spiritual experience and calls to make an imaginary space travel, along with the remains imbedded in capsules, to fly towards Space... Be prepared for strong experience. The closest associative row includes the following musicians: Brian Eno, Klaus Schulze, DELERIUM (early), SYNAESTHESIA, INTERMIX, DOWNLOAD, COIL, BAD SECTOR, TANGERINE DREAM, Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre, Edward Artemyev, FUTURE SOUNDS OF LONDON, THE ORB… [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Death In June -- "The Phoenix Has Risen" -- CD -- €13
NERUS, NERUS2
Whilst Death In June try to re-write history, some people continues to reclaim it. These recently discovered recordings were unknown to members of the group until 2005. They feature a rehearsal studio recording in 1981 of nine songs, some of which were never named or released. These are coupled with eight live songs from the seminal performance at Alan McGee's 'The Living Room' club in London, 9th September, 1983. It was on that fateful evening that Mr. McGee introduced Douglas P. to David Tibet. Musical history was never to be the same again. The CD comes in a black and silver foil-blocked gatefold sleeve 'softpak' which includes a 9.5" x 9.5" (24cm x 24cm) double-sided poster. Track listing: 1. We Drive East, 2. Knives, 3. Nation, 4. In The Night Time, 5. Himmel Strasse, 6. Nothing Changes, 7. Untitled, 8. All Alone In Her Nirvana, 9. Intermission, 10. Intro, 11. Till The Living Flesh Is Burned, 12. All Alone In Her Nirvana, 13. Fields, 14. We Drive East, 15. Nothing Changes, 16. In The Night Time, 17. Heaven Street. [label info]
Death In June -- "Take Care and Control" -- CD -- €15
NERUS, NERUS42
Albin Julius of Der Blutharsch contributed to this album and continues a theme consistent to Douglas P.'s collaborations over his long career. A platter of scathing militance and surreal atmospheres backed by a wealth of experience makes this a truly masterful release from the commanders of dark industrial. [label info]
Death In June -- "The World That Summer" -- CD -- €16
Neroz, NER BAD VCCD 9
Re-edition of vinyl album, first time on a CD. Australian import. Digipak.
Der Blutharsch -- "Live at the Monastery" -- CD -- €13
Wir Kapitulieren Niemals, WKN 24
The recording of acoustic concert played in Vienna on May 1, 2005.
Dvar -- "Jraah Mraah" -- CD -- €7
2007 Gravitator Records, GRR 023
After a year odd of silence DVAR comes back with a new extraordinary creation. "Jraah Mraah" presents 30 finely crafted miniature masterpieces made at the meeting-point of indietronics, gothic, fantasy pop, minimalism and avanguard. Blazing expressive pieces vary from driving ones to meditative, from "cheerful" to tragic. That's possibly how "punk" or "synthpop" should sound if performed by cockroaches, flies and caterpillars from old Soviet cartoons. And really, one can't but admire this inventive sickness in performance! The disc is literally covered with odd obscure atmosphere similar to David Lynch's movies. This feeling, when under a mask of a clown you can see a skull, or when a colorful wrapping of a chocolate sweet hides a pile of dead earthworms inside... Besides traditional fans of Dvar, this album will be surely appreciated by sentimental lovers of touching child's music and other most unusual, experimental and innovative. Unambiguously recommended to the fans of «Schnappi, das Kleine Krokodil», THE RESIDENTS, DRAGIBUS, PLUXUS, MESSERCHUPS, Yan Tiersen, LITTLE COMPUTER PEOPLE, SNAKESKIN, etc. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Exit In Grey -- "Emotional Resounding" -- CD-R -- €8
2005/2007 Daphnia Records, PH06, 2nd edition
Slowly evolving spaces filled with deep guitar drones, field recordings and ocassional electronic sounds. Definite recommendations! Second edition.
Five Elements Music -- "New Communications: One" -- CD-R -- €8
2006 Still*Sleep, SS09
Russian project FEM works approximately in the same conceptual course as Japanese Aube, but oriented towards "natural" approach. While Aube uses only one sound source for an album, may it be tone generator's waves or sounds of water, FEM chooses only 5 elements: air, water, earth and stone. And while Aube often goes mad with building mathematically precise multy-level constructions with hi-fi sound, FEM on the contrary inherited droning structure of tracks from other projects of [S] (Sister Loolomie, Exit In Grey) with muffled lingering sounds. This album starts with literally stone ambient but by 10th minute the identification of sound practically disappears and only sometimes kind of familiar timbres emerge: cicadas, radionoises, etc.
Fjernlys -- "Ascending Triads And Luminous Arcs" -- 2 CD -- €17
2006 Loki Foundation, Loki 42
On their first album FJERNLYS emerges marvelous sounds and voices organically in songs and arrange a pleasant and relaxed sound to pure benefit with highest recognizing value. The songs layer cosmic and synthetic sounds and go on tracing according to the principle harmony in the music, their acoustic space seems very expansive, it is by no means over-crowded. The voices creep crosswise into sounds and effects to lunar spheres and solar places, exactly the correct nuance at refinement not only to remain in the ear but also simply very charming. Sometimes the central sequence takes surprising twists in some recordings and the density of sounds became touchable. Behind this project hides one of the INADE Masterminds, who recorded nine tracks supported from several musicians, those clearly possesses more songcharacter than the work which appeared from the Lightchannel so far. Fjernlys' attitude to music remains unfettered by stylistic frames and the album targets the style-encompassing essence of sounds. The five remixes and interpretations of ANTLERS MULM, BAD SECTOR, FIRST LAW and LOVESPELL on the second CD support the complex character of the whole release and expand the border to a new style of Ambient Songs. Ace - Clear - Pure. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Herbst9 -- "From A Dark Chasm Below" -- CD -- €13
Loki Foundation, Loki29
The legendary and long deleted first album now finally available again in a remastered version! Complex, textural ambience, consisting of layer upon layer of kinetic, luminous tones and ephemeral nuances of time. Nearly 70 minutes of finest ritual ambient music, mesmerizing rhythmic percussions with deep and sonorous dronings. Herbst9 construct sonic rituals gleaned from the ruins of minds scraped hollow and left to decay while the natural sound stands with this release and the archaic motives developing visionary sequences. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Herbst9 vs Z'EV -- "Through Bleak Landscapes" -- CD -- €13
2007 Loki Foundation, Loki 45
With this stunning collaboration the dark cavernous drones and ethnic-ritual instrumentation of Herbst9 melts with the complex and percussive sounds of industrial pionier and master of rhythmajik Z'EV. Ten tracks of deep spheres and blazing ruminant lightnings abducting you into golden constellations and swirling worlds full of aural effects and demonic resonance. Both projects worked with raw material of each other while the final mix was made by Herbst9. The result is a sombre and meditative soundtrack made with gongs, choral textures, deep vibrating strings and scraping effect-sounds reaching it's climax with outbursting tribalistic sequences and drummings. An impressive and gripping journey through bleak landscapes and abandoned places accompanied by a 24-pg booklet. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
His Divine Grace -- "Eurydice" -- CD -- €11
2005 Dark Vinyl, DV #48
After several releases on HAURUCK this is the third release by HIS DIVINE GRACE. Eurydice features 5 relaxing ambient tracks, which are ranging from ritual, meditative to dark ambient with a gloomy and doomy atmosphere. [label info]
Hum -- "s/t" -- C-60 -- €7
2000 Sphogha
Hum -- "Blade Charm" -- CD-R -- €10
2006 Sphogha, (ltd. 52)
The album is compiled from recordings made in summer 2001 with the use of synths, radio, tapes and tapeloops. It reminds more early projects of Dmitry Chistov (Nigredo, Sphogha), then late soft drony Hum in way of "Sleepland Emission". Here the sound is more rough and shaggy, with dominating wheezing noises, though of course he couldn't do without long resonances and hypnotic atmosphere. Beautiful and tidy handmade cover.
Hum -- "Crux Vitae" -- C-74 -- €7
2001 Ultra Low Fidelity 5
Hum -- "Germ of Passion" -- CD-R -- €10
2003 Sphogha, Ultra Low Fidelity 9
This project comes from Moscow region and plays mild calm drone ambient. The author uses only old technique of tape recording which gives the sound proper lo-fi quality, but here it only adds charm to music which harmonically abstract waves form psychedelic interference patterns.
Hum -- "Mystery Of Moonlight" -- C-90 -- €7
2001 Ultra Low Fidelity 7
Hum -- "Pilgrim on the Way of Negation" -- 2 CD-R -- €12
2007 Datura Landscapes, DATURA 10
Calm and minimalistic work in Hum's particular style. Slow detached modulations of synthesizers' signals and floating resonances, reverberated faint sounds of unknown origin. Unlike the previous noisy album "Blade Charm", this one is much more ambient-oriented and even bright to some extent.
In Gowan Ring -- "Exits and Entrances" -- 2 CD -- €19
2007 Ahnstern, Ahnstern25
Jon Michael B'Eirth (B' - IN GOWAN RING / BIRCH BOOK) is one of the last of a dying breed, that of the wandering minstrel. At the same time he is one of the first, one of the founders of a new generation of Folk musicians, gently growing out of the early ninetees, after a worldwide, for 15 years lasting dark era of no ambitious Folkrock music at all. Approaching the middle of the 70ies, all the great Folk-Rock bands, Songwriters and Minstrels either disappeared or started to drift into triviality (beside a very few exceptions) and the darkness in Folk should last up to the late 80ies/early 90ies, when artists from the early World Serpent label recovered their roots out of the late 60ies/early 70ies era. This was the time, when the young B' joined World Serpent and within only 2 albums, he got one of the most important acts on that label and for the whole growing scene. From the very beginning until today he was the lonesome wandering minstrel and with his heartbreaking balads and Psychedelic Folk tunes he occupied many hearts over the past 15 years. IN GOWAN RING is not only unique because of B's outrider position, he is also a perfectionist and a highly professional autodidact. He is one of the very few persons I ever met, who plays all imaginable instruments and who is even able to build and (re)construct these instruments himself. A unique genius with a big heart full of sadness and flowers... Exists & Entrances is a retrospective through the years 1994 to 2003. All 40 songs and 157 minutes have never been released officially before, only the artist himself gave away some copies on CDR. On several songs B' was performing with Michael Moinyhan & Annabel Lee (BLOOD AXIS / ALRAUNE), with Markus Wolff (WALDTEUFEL) and other friends around his magical circle of Folk freaks. Besides several traditional songs, this compilation also includes coverversions from songs by great 60ies/70ies Progressive Folk artists and songwriters, like THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND, STRAWBS, VASHTI BUNYAN, NICK DRAKE, FRED NIEL, ROD McKUEN, as well as coverversions from PSYCHIC TV, LEGENDARY PINK DOTS, Brian Castillo (JARBOE) and 17 PYGMIES. All songs were remastered by Axel Frank (WERKRAUM) in the Blue Lounge Studios/Berlin. [press release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Inade -- "Colliding Dimensions" -- 4 CD -- €27
2005 Loki Foundation, loki 38
Live retrospective box with 4 individual CDs and 16-pg. booklet. All material recorded and sculptured during live shows and rehearsal sessions 1995-2002.
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Inade -- "The Crackling Of The Anonymous" -- CD -- €13
Loki Foundation, LOKI29
After 5 years since the last studio album Aldebaran, we can finally announce the release of a new full lenght work. With The Crackling Of The Anonymous, Inade move beyond all pre-conceived notions of sonic creativity. The plethora of puzzle pieces that interconnect in the expanding universe that Inade unwaveringly explores have grown amorphous, no longer defined by distinct outlines, melding as one whole, obscure entity. The expansion comes in many levels, incorporating the vast parameters of time, dimension and reality as viable participants in Inade's aural objective: to shine a light on the enigmatic unknown and give it a vague silhouette. The dark and hallucinatory masterwork that is The Crackling Of The Anonymous, is constructed via the never heard utterances of the void, while tapping into the psyche of the impossible. A stunning release that defies all logic because it creates its own! [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3]
Ion And Sophus -- "The First Step towards the Abyss..." -- CD-R -- €8
2007 Still*Sleep, cdr1
One more project from the Exit In Grey / Five Elements Music company - created by Sergey [S] and [D]iona. Stylistically it's almost the same: totally calm atmospheric ambient woven from mainly processed field recordings and smooth synth tunes.
Kriegsfall-U -- "s/t" -- CD -- €13
2005 Cold Spring Records, CSR54CD
Sacral post-industrial from Hungary with heroic, esoteric and philosophical influences. In the Blood of Heroes of Love and Fear. Purity and Justice against the Wane and Impurity. Musically, you may compare KRIEGSFALL-U with Turbund Sturmwerk, Wappenbund, Les Joyaux De La Princesse, Sophia, early Der Blutharsch... The CD comes in a nice digipack, with an A/3 full-colour poster. All lyrics translated into English. Fresh blood in the scene. [press-release]
[mp3]
Lucisferrato -- "Weltanschauung" -- CD -- €11
2004 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 054
Re-edition with some aditional unreleased material of the Lucisferrato masterpiece album out in 1998 only as CDR in a limited edition of 100 copies on the Russian label Black Dead Rabbit! Surely the most intriguing and controversial Russian dark industrial & martial project, known also for his releases on Hau Ruck! [press release]
Maw -- "Melancholy Drop" -- CD-R -- €10
2006 Datura Landscapes, DATURA9
New album of Maw is made of recordings from 2001. Four long tracks in best author's traditions - slow, fluent, laid-back, resonant, well, here one can list all the epithets that fit to outstanding lo-fi drone ambient. Again beautiful stylish cardboard cover.
Megaptera -- "Staring Back At You" -- CD -- €14
Malignant Records, tumorcd29, (ltd. 800)
In a final celebration of Megaptera's 15 year anniversary, Malignant presents the definitive last statement from this prominent and highly influential death industrial project. Staring Back At You concentrates on demo versions, outtakes, and rare songs from various arenas, including the compilations Zyklon B, Beating the Meat, Slaughter Age '95, The Book ov Shadowz, Death Odors II, as well as material from the Deep Inside mLP, and more. These tracks capture Megaptera at their grittiest, creepiest, and most horrifying...a grinding, lurching monstrosity fueled by the madness, violence, lies, wars, and disease that plague the world. Lmtd to 800 copies, and coming in a 6 panel digipak designed by Marten Kellerman, this has been re-mastered by Magnus Sundstrom (The Protagonist), with additional boosting courtesy of Thomas Garrison (Control). Staring Back At You is final nail in the coffin for Megaptera, and may they rest in peace, but continue to deliver nightmares, maddening thoughts, and the darkest of obsessions. Track listing: More Disturbance (demo version), The Passage (demo version), Disoriented (Totally Different demo version), Lurking Fear (Pre-damaged demo version), Frozen Corpse, The Final Day (excerpt), Morior, Mass Murder, Antropofagi, Deep Inside. [label info]
Melek-Tha -- "Acclaim Hell" -- CD -- €11
2007 Dark Vinyl, DV #57
Melek-Tha stands for bombastic black industrial and apocalyptic death music. After their last, more noise and post-industrial oriented album from 2005 ("Decimation World") Melek-Tha now buries you under a massive wall of sounds with more orchestral elements, added by symphonic chants and rhythmic beats. This is the perfect soundtrack for movies like Sin City 2 or Saw III. Welcome to hell! [press-release]
Melek-Tha -- "War is Coming" -- CD -- €11
2004 Dark Vinyl, DV #49
We think there is no need for any special introduction: MELEK-THA still stands for bombastic Black Industrial and Apocalyptic Death Music, added by symphonic chants. The onliest difference to his earlier releases are the much more aggressive & rythmical beats and the more doomy guitars, which will blow you away this time! Armaggedon is near and the fusion / melting between death industrial and black metal has reached a new zenith under the leadership of MELEK-THA. [press-release]
Negru Pvlse -- "Madeira" -- CD -- €12
2002 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 056
Collaboration between 2 great swedish CMI area projects: Negru Voda (Megaptera's new main project!) & Moliebka Pulse, 2 long dark industrial tracks in best cold northern tradition. [press-release]
Neuestrasse -- "Introspective Black Forms" -- CD -- €13
2006 War Office Propaganda / Rage In Eden, WOP35
"Introspective Black Forms" is interesting piece of Italian dark ambient act Neuestrasse. The intention is to recreate the anxiety vision of beginning of 20th century - desolated places of that period, fear, death, ruins... Particulary for this album, Neuestrasse was inspired by stories of serial killers. Neuestrasse is the name of street of Hannover where lived Fritz Hartmann, the Wolf of Hannover, in 1920... The idea of "Introspective Black Forms" is based of negative emotional states... 5 tracks, 45 minutes. [press-release]
Nocturne -- "Fleisch und Metall" -- CD -- €13
2007 Steinklang Industries, SKD 17, (ltd. 500)
"Fleisch und Metall" is a conceptual album, a soundtrack for an actionistic performance, done by the French Industrial / Noise act Nocturne. The performance took place in a old, ruined factory and the 20-page booklet shows impressions from this event, as well as several artistic fotos from industrial areas. "Fleisch und Metall" is a very organic and icecold album, sometimes reminding to early Werkbund, sometimes even to japanoise-like metall-orgies. All in all the album is very complexly structured and many changes in music and style don't let come up any boring moments. Nocturne also uses a lot of samples in French language and even more sirenes, saws, metal-hammerings and more machine sounds, what gives "Fleisch und Metall" the grade of a 100% pure Industrial album. An additional 11 minute video brings you a challenging hommage to industrial work and revolution, accompanied by an amazing Industrial soundtrack. [press release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Nocturne -- "Hymn For Herest I & II" -- CD -- €13
2002 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 040
Second release by Nocturne on OEC after the legendary 10" vinyl! Nocturne is the musical representation of "Art Schock" visual work, which is completely based on historical facts related to the 2 World Wars... Representing on a crude way this reality in sounds & images...! Over 75 minutes of uncompromising bubbling & rumbling "military" industrial sounds with lots of sampled voices from the past & war sounds! Pain & reality... Special large folding poster cover, as usual devoted on explicit way to the wars... [press-release]
Nocturne -- "Kapitulation" -- CD -- €11
2000 Stateart, SA022, (ltd. 1000)
Nocturne's first full length CD release, after two celebrated 10" releases from Tesco and Old Europa Cafe. Once more, this French artist follows his footsteps by exploring the traces of history and their effects on modern moral standards. "Kapitulation" stands for the resignation of human civilization throughout the 20th Century. An apocalyptic maelstrom of raw electronic compositions and underlying effects of historical recordings that unite and arouse during an oppressing finale. [label info]
Nocturne -- "Le Dernier Jour" -- 7" (black) -- €10
Cold Lands, CLAN 03, (ltd. 146)
One sided heavy black 7" includes the lost track from 1999. The record comes in a dark green tarpaulin military bag. Promo copy without a number.
Nocturne -- "Le Dernier Jour" -- 7" (clear) -- €12
Cold Lands, CLAN 03, (ltd. 54)
One sided heavy clear 7" includes the lost track from 1999. The record comes in a dark green tarpaulin military bag. Promo copy without a number.
November Növelet -- "Club Misanthropy" -- T-shirt -- €17
Galakthorrö
Black classic (unisex) T-shirt with a logo. Size XL. Image.
O Paradis -- "Serpiente de Luna, Serpiente de Sol" -- CD -- €13
2003 Aorta, AORCD08
Most of the songs are based on samples, exquisitely knitted together over original bass-lines, and topped off with Demian's somewhat mournful and nostalgic vocals. Despite being richly produced, some of the songs have a bare, folky quality about them, with Demian's Spanish vocals creating an air of impenetrability to my Anglo-Saxon ears. This is not a negative, just something that underlines the difference between this project and its patron. It is also something that is less noticeable when concession are made to, how does one say, catchiness, such as on the simply gorgeous 'Por Cuidar de Mi, Amor', in which a beautiful synth line carries the song along. One could say that the folkier songs are solid and beautiful, whilst tracks like 'Por Cuidar', and the equally gorgeous 'Palabras', are just transcendent. The clarity of the album‚s production is worth emphasising, as is the stunning foldout digipak. [label info]
Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio -- "Make Love and War - The Wedlock of Equilibrium" -- CD -- €13
2001 Cold Meat Industry, CMI.94
Perfected and refined, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio returns once more with the second chapter of "Make Love, And War" - The Wedlock of Equilibrium. Darker, improved and additionally urging, Make Love, And War / The Wedlock of Equilibrium presents an additional 40 minutes of immaculate equilibrium on the illusive boundary of conjectural extremes. Accompanied by the sounds of acoustic guitars, cyclic soundscapes and martial percussions, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio presents another ten songs on the threshold of the sensually seductive and morally reprehensible, gospels on the verge of the conjecturally acclaimed and what's soon to be inflamed. Make Love, And War / The Wedlock of Equilibrium embarks further and beyond the previous accomplishment and success of Make Love, And War / The Wedlock of Roses, and congregates into an amazing work which completes the bond of Love And War, making two become one, Roses & Equilibrium = Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio. [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3]
PBK -- "Retro" -- 3 CD + 1 antimusic CD -- €22
2006 Waystyx, WR24, (ltd. 264)
This is an archive collection of the recordings made by one of acknowledged classics of experimental electronic music. The first CD contains remastered tracks from 1987-1991 previously released only on tapes, 2nd and 3rd CDs contain unreleased albums from 1988, 4th CD contains all necessary information. Special cardboard package.
[mp3]
Puissance -- "Grace of God" -- CD -- €13
2007 Equilibrium Music, EQM017
The cogwheels on the Puissance warmachine are back to work, as defiant and innovative as ever. "Grace of God" re-invents the current notion of Martial-Pop, with their own superior combination of sumptuous Neo-Classical and Industrial music. [press release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Rapoon -- "Time Frost" -- CD -- €12
2007 Glacial Movements, GM003, (ltd. 750)
One of the predicted swings in the weather due to global warming is paradoxically a new ice age which could envelope Europe. Time Frost is music based upon this concept and uses tiny fragments of music from an iconic European composition, Johann Strauss's Blue Danube. I imagined that tiny pieces of former cultures survived locked in the ice and waiting for future archaeologists to discover and interpret them. I used vinyl lock grooves of the Blue Danube (from the 1968 MGM recording for the film soundtrack 2001). These formed the starting points for the five compositions in Time Frost which were then manipulated and added to and re-arranged into new compositions. Time Frost is an imaginary recording of the mutational process of sound locked into ice and transformed over millenia. Like ghosts of music trapped in an evershifting permafrost. [from the author]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Ritual Front -- "Two Lightnings" -- 3"CD-R -- €10
2003 Ingria 003, (ltd. 100)
First recording of St. Petersburg's martial/dark-folk project. Cheerful marching samples, classic dark-folkish guitar tunes, heartfelt lyrics and strong energy. Undoubtly one of the best bands in this genre.
Roricat -- "Uki Uki" -- CD -- €12
2003 HORUS CyclicDaemon, HCD 05, (ltd. 500)
Roricat is a Russian duo consisting of: Julica Rorica on voices and magic, and Eugene T on guitars and machines. [...] Layers of crystalline guitar strains are interwoven with languidly lively electronics and sparse hand-drum percussion. When put into words, it sounds so minimal, yet what this duo create is a brilliant dose of highly melodic electronic music that oozes with a blend of human passion and alien disposition. The mood is often icy and abstract. Wavering tonalities pulsate with synthetic effects, while gentle percussion contributes a pittering tempo. Treated guitars drift like ghosts through the mix, caressing the melodies with an ethereal touch that is quite indescribable. A bevy of inventiveness is utilized to create these tunes, resulting in hyperactive pastiches of gentle demeanor. While the individual sounds may be simplistic, their unity creates a lavish gestalt that is nothing short of amazing. [Matt Howarth, Sonic Curiosity]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Rukkanor -- "Despartica - Face One" -- CD -- €13
2007 War Office Propaganda / Rage In Eden, WOP44
Despartica is a collection of impressions, situations and moments in life. The particular parallel between lyrics based on old poetry, and all this what happens nowadays, creates often the atmosphere of bitter reflection and irony. Desires, beliefs, dreams, emotions, experiences, beauty of life and sight of inevitable death in 19th and 20th Century poems "framed" in varied music, from strong industrial rhythms to romantic ballads with melancholic recitations and singing. Yet another different chapter in Rukkanor's musical book. First part of double CDs set - "Despartica - Face One" is now available. 10 songs, 45 minutes, CD in digipack. [press-release]
Rukkanor -- "Ende" -- mCD -- €11
2007 War Office Propaganda / Rage In Eden, WOP36, (ltd. 400)
"Ende" is retrospective compilation of unpublished tracks of Rukkanor. Five tracks composed during Scontum act IV, Triumvire and Despartica sessions with supplement of live recorded track Virus Dei in new interesting arrangement. War theme, military atmosphere - this is the face of Rukkanor on this EP. Release limited to 400 copies only! 6 tracks, 30 minutes. [press-release]
Sieben -- "High Broad Field" -- CD + DVD -- €16
Trisol, TRI 279 CD
The new studio album from Matt Howden charts a journey. A knight wakes from his burial mound after a thousand years of sleep. He journeys, seeking his purpose - along the way asking The Hills, The Moor, a tricky Devil, a selfish-child God, The Lamb, and the Earth itself. SIEBEN's new album is a pagent, a modern Medieval-Mystery Cycle play, steeped in atmosphere, laden with rich language, a world of Howden's own making. The violin loops, builds and soars, gently surrounding and enveloping the listener, pulling them into his world, caressing them along the way. The album evolves and unfolds beautifully, journeying to the centre of this mystery, resolving on the final song with a grand finale. Twelve wonderfully-crafted simple earthy songs. Along with the CD, this double-digipack comes with a DVD film of High Broad Field! Conceived and directed by Portuguese film director Joao Paulo Simoes, the film is a visual feast, gently rolling across the landscapes of Howden's native North of England, evoking the same spine-tingling sensation as SIEBEN's ethereal and earthy music. [label info]
Sister Loolomie / Polaris -- "Out Of Space" -- 3" CD-R -- €6
2005 Abgurd Subdivision, AB-14, (ltd. 256)
Mini-split of two Russian drone ambient projects. Sister Loolomie presented a beautiful composition "The Colour Out Of Space" painted with the whole palette of emotional colours. Recognizable sound of the project received a new vibe: granulated guitar crackling is amplified with harmonic melodic influxes evolving in noise apotheosis. The track of Polaris - "The Shadow Out Of Space" - is much more introvertive and filled with gloomy interstices and wandering cold winds.
[mp3] [mp3]
Stahlwerk 9 / Cold Fusion / Rukkanor -- "Triumvire" -- CD -- €19
2006 War Office Propaganda, WOP 27, (ltd. 660)
Dark and poetical musical vision of stormy times of ancient Roman Republic, civil wars, Triumviratus and Empire. Triumvire is an alliance of three martial industrial projects - Stahlwerk 9, Cold Fusion and Rukkanor. Beautiful wooden box with gold embroidered velour, gold printings and golden CD - 660 copies in three colors (black, red and grey) - only 220 of each! Full handmade, hand numbered unique limited release. [press-release]
[mp3]
Stratvm Terror -- "Pariah Demise" -- CD -- €12
1995/2005 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 006-II
Long time sold out album and first released in 1996, now Pariah Demise, the very first CD album by Stratvm Terror, has been re-mastered with additional extra material from the Germinal Chamber tape out on the same time on OEC and now deleted, plus one previously unreleased bonus track from 1996. Discover this nice killer plate of pulsing and beating, cold and doom power industrial electronics served in a complete new, fresh and haunting artwork. Jewel-box with nice skull / deathly artwork... [press-release]
Sturm -- "Le prix du sang et des larmes" -- CD -- €13
2007 War Office Propaganda / Rage In Eden, WOP34
Very attracted debut of French neoclassical, symphonic, martial industrial act. Fourty minutes of music in nine tracks created in specific orchestral vein. Very interesting music, not so many mighty, bombastic phrases, but a lot of moving atmospheres. Recommended! [press-release]
Sturmpercht -- "Geister im Waldgebrig" -- CD -- €13
Percht, Percht 07
One year has passed since the Austrian / south Bavarian Alpin-Folk formation Sturmpercht released their last 7". Finally now here is their long awaited new album! "Geister im Waldgebirg" is a journey through the deepest central-European forests and mountains with all their strange creatures, fairies, myths and legends. The sounds and lyrics on this album are engrained in old pagan rites and cults, in hunters-legends and in tales from darkest woods and the people living there. The songstyles vary from powerful Martial-Folk hymns, over fragile Folk-balads, to weird songs about strange people and creepy animals. Several great artists supported Sturmpercht in the making of this album: first af all Axel from WERKRAUM, who is a basic Sturmpercht-member since quite a while now. It's Axels perfect guitar- and flute playing and his skillful hands in mixing, that the Folk-songs have this brilliant late 60ies/early 70ies touch now. The close Sturmpercht-friends ALLERSEELEN, SANGRE CAVALLUM and WALDTEUFEL have also recorded fantastic songs especially for this album. Allerseelen and Sangre Cavallum also contributed several sounds from their large archives and Waldteufel additionally gave his voice for "Riesenbruder". Sturmpercht is the only Folk-band, who created their own music style named "ALPIN-FOLK", which is absolutely unique up to now. Anyway if you prefer straight or weird Folk: there is no way around this album for all kinds of Folk-Lovers. This album will be your closest friend in dark and frosty winter nights! [press-release]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Tam Quam Tabula Rasa -- "Fabula Rasa" -- CD -- €11
2001 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 034
Maybe the more obscure ethno-post-industrial Italian project! A real obscure mind is behind this great researcher of abrasive structures & absolute sounds … It’s incredible that their debut cd is coming only now as they are composing this great muzak since the ’80! TQTR has out some tapes on OEC & Misty Circles + a 7" on Drone ... very "sexual" cover art-work for "adults only"! [press-release]
Toroidh -- "European Trilogy" -- 3 CD -- €33
2006 War Office Propaganda, WOP33
The campaign starts again - European Trilogy 3CD box in War Office Propaganda! Reworked and remastered legendary Toroidh records: "Those Who Do Not Remember The Past Are Condemned To Repeat It", "Europe Is Dead", "Testament" in new versions, made especially only for this release. 3 x CD packed in unprecedented excellent case. No need to say more. [press-release]
Troum -- "Nargis" -- 7" (pink) -- €11
2007 Viva Hate Records, VHR-45-002.1, (ltd. 100)
Part one of the "Landscapes Single Series", full-colour artwork & inlay designed by Mars Wellink (adVANCEd). Pink transparent vinyl - limited edition.
Troum & All Sides -- "Shutun" -- CD -- €14
2006 Old Europa Cafe, OECD 089
Finaly, after several historiacal releases as MAEROR TRI, the acclaimed German duo is going for their first full-legth release on OEC as TROUM! This is, as they say, their most complex work to date made mixing 25 different tracks into one unique long (over 50 muinutes) composition! TROUM for this album is collaborating with the femal ALL SIDES project which makes this release even more intriguing! & it's their first full length album since Tjukurpa 3 dated 2003... Troum (ancient german word for "Dream") aim is to lead the listener into a hypnotizing dream-state of mind, and use music as the direct path to the unconscious pointing to the archaic essence of human psyche! TROUM works for creat alterated states of mind, they work on human unconscisus sphere... Their post-industrial drone music is created using a wide range of instruments like: guitar, bass, voice, accordiaon, balalaika, flute, mouth-organ, melodica, gong, field recordings & more, to create a sort of trascendental dark & atmospheric ambient industrial. TROUM dosen't work with synths, samples or computer soundscapes! The sounds are created "by hand". You can feel in this album: mysticism, ancestral power, ancient rites, the nature of your beeing... but also a collapsing world, the sounds of a falling universe, the deepest and more far star burning.... as well as the more inner part of yourself moving & pulsing! A journey through space, body & soul! This album comes in a special round metal-box! [press-release].
Waldteufel -- "Rauhnacht" -- mCD -- €13
Terra Fria, tf006
"Rauhnacht" consists of almost 30 minutes of brand new music, with the exception of "Allerseelengebet" which was recorded last year far the occasion of the Wild Hunt concert at a church in Portland. The songs/soundpoems all deal with the Wild Hunt and the 12 Rauhnachte in folklore & myth, winter themes that are made for the upcoming season. [label info]
Waldteufel -- "Sanguis" -- CD -- €18
2007 Beta-lactam Ring Records, mt069, (ltd. 900)
After more than three years of research & development, WALDTEUFEL finally deliver their new opus: SANGUIS. First conceived as a 12”, it has since blossomed into a full-length album. SANGUIS features lyrics by two nearly forgotten German personalities – Stefan George & Alfred Schuler, who can be considered the two opposite poles of the ‘Cosmic Circle,’ a group of mystically inclined German authors that were active in Fin de Siecle Munich– as well as lyrical fragments from the ancient Indian Vedas. Musically, it runs the gamut from dense hypnotic atmospheres, ritual passages to metallic chants and triumphant percussion-heavy hymns. It is the most adventurous and varied WALDTEUFEL work so far, and expands and deepens the themes explored in the first album “Heimliches Deutschland.” The instruments used include everything from accordeon, violin, wood percussion, horns to electric guitar, Moog synthesizer and that most archaic instrument of all: the voice. SANGUIS intends to focus the listener’s attention on the realm that lies beyond all appearances, a radiance which is mirrored in our most elemental selves: the essence of breath and blood that surrounds our spiritual core. SANGUIS was entirely recorded by Markus Wolff and Tyrsson Sinclair. Wolff has had a long musical career as a drummer/visual artist of the legendary percussion/performance collective CRASH WORSHIP. He has also been a live drummer/percussionist for many friends, including SORIAH, IN GOWAN RING, BLOOD AXIS, WITCH-HUNT, ALLERSEELEN, and CHANGES as well as the drummer on the ALETHES “Aletheia” album. He is currently also active with Black Metal formation L’ACEPHALE and the experimental chamber musick ensemble A MINORITY OF ONE. In ages past, Tyrsson Sinclair commandeered the extreme metal entity WARHATE. His current solo-project is NORTHMAN and he is also developing a new project called HAMRAMR. First ed. of 900 copies in a smoking hot full color book bound gatefold case and 8 page lyric booklet. [label info]
[mp3] [mp3] [mp3] [mp3]
Watermann, John -- "Neurotic Jesus Cash Boy" -- CD -- €13
2006 Waystyx, WR27, (ltd. 150)
Half-hour long album previously published by Tochnit Aleph label is a beautiful example of John Watermann's late works. Flowing relaxed music filled with pulsations and transformed voices, surprisingly resembling best electronic works of Muslimgauze.
[mp3]
V/A -- "Flowers Made of Snow" -- 2 CD -- €13
2004 Cold Meat Industry, cmi130
Coph Nia, The Protagonist, In Slaugther Natives, All My Faith Lost, The Last Hour, Apatheia, Ataraxia, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, Hesperos, Sibelian, Sanctum, Desiderii Marginis, Raison d'etre, Atrium Carceri, MZ.412, Brighter Death Now, IRM, Deutsch Nepal, Nacht, Beyond Sensory Experience, Sephiroth, Skin Area.
V/A -- "Holy Mother Russia" -- CD-R -- €16
2004 Steinklang International, SK-IN 02, (ltd. 100)
A compilation of most known Russian musicians on famous Austrian label. Featuring: Linija Mass, Lunar Abyss Quartet, Reutoff, Sal Solaris, Bardoseneticcube, Stalnoy Pakt, Lucisferrato, HUM.
V/A -- "Looking For Europe" -- 4 CD + book -- €27
Auerbach Tontrager
The history of neofolk - for the first time on CD - the compilation accompanying the seminal book "Looking For Europe". Exceedingly lavish 4-CD box, clothbound and gold-embossed, extensive 100 pages booklet featuring liner notes, rare photos, and a lot of information on the artists. The release features many rare, exclusive, and previously unreleased tracks, as well as the hits of neofolk - a unique document of music history. Included artists: Scott Walker, Nico (ex-Velvet Underground), Laibach, The Strawbs, The Royal Family And The Poor feat. Peter Hook (New Order, Joy Division), Test Department, Death In June, Sol Invictus, Magnet, Shining Vril, Hagalaz' Runedance, Empyrium, Genesis P. Orridge/Thee Majesty, Fire + Ice, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, Der Blutharsch, Kirlian Camera, Orplid, Forseti, etc. [label info]
V/A -- "Steinklang Industries III" -- CD -- €7
2007 Steinklang Industries
This is part 3 of the label compilation series! 79 min. / 20 tracks, 10 tracks Industrial / Noise / Dark Ambient: Indigo Larvae / Stahlwerk 9 / Flutwacht / Grimbergen / Institution D.O.L. / S.T.U.G.218 / Antracot / Dissecting Table / Maurizio Bianchi + Land Use / A Challenge of Honour, 10 songs Folk and more: Un Defi d'Honneur / Allerseelen / Werkraum / Svarrogh / In Gowan Ring / Zlye Kukly / Sangre Cavallum / Phase II / Sturmpercht / Waldteufel.